Jailed Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai has denied at his national security trial that he requested Washington, via a senior US adviser, to sanction China after the Beijing-imposed security law came into effect five years ago. Jimmy Lai. File photo: Kelly Ho/HKFP. Lai, 77, on Monday also pushed back against the allegation that he…
Jailed media tycoon Jimmy Lai has denied concealing a plan to meet American officials in mid-2020 when he applied to the court to lift a travel ban at that time, as prosecutors raised questions about his credibility during his high-profile national security trial. Jimmy Lai in 2020. Photo: HKFP. Lai, 77, told the court on…
Former Hong Kong media boss Jimmy Lai Chee-ying has said he misjudged how effective a United States law enabling economic sanctions against city officials would be, despite lobbying for its passage amid anti-government protests in 2019. Lai initially told his marathon national security trial on Thursday that he was “not interested” in the Hong Kong…
Former Hong Kong media boss Jimmy Lai Chee-ying paid more than HK$13 million (US$1.93 million) to two former United States officials for their consultancy services for the Taiwanese government, a court heard on Friday. Lai also said he had unknowingly paid NT$5.8 million (US$176,000) to a top aide of then Taiwanese leader Tsai Ing-wen over…
Former media boss Jimmy Lai Chee-ying has denied colluding with a retired US diplomat to allow Washington’s intervention in Hong Kong affairs, but said he had maintained contact with the ex-official as he valued his advice and considered their friendship “beneficial” despite the national security law. Lai told his high-profile trial on Tuesday that James…
Former media boss Jimmy Lai Chee-ying has said he might have asked a senior US official to impose sanctions on Beijing and Hong Kong following the city authorities’ crackdown on the 2019 anti-government protests. Lai on Wednesday also tried to distance himself from the “Fight for Freedom, Stand with Hong Kong” (SWHK) international lobbying group,…