Did Jimmy Lai instruct staff to draw Western attention to Hong Kong protests?

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Jimmy Lai Instructed Staff to Seek Western Attention for Hong Kong Protests

The first prosecution witness in the national security case against media tycoon Jimmy Lai stated that Lai instructed him to call for people to join protests in 2019 and to draw the attention of Western democracies. Cheung Kim-hung, the former CEO of Apple Daily's parent company, Next Digital, testified that Lai believed the proposed extradition bill would be used to suppress Hong Kong's democracy and freedoms. Lai's intention, according to Cheung, was to garner assistance from Western democratic countries, potentially including sanctions.
Instructions to Mobilise Protesters

Cheung Kim-hung testified that Jimmy Lai explicitly instructed him to use Apple Daily to encourage public participation in street demonstrations. These directives were aimed at pressuring the government, as Lai was perceived to be a consistent advocate for democracy, freedom, and opposition to totalitarianism. Lai's strategy involved leveraging his media platform to mobilise citizens.
Seeking International Intervention

Beyond domestic pressure, Lai also sought to engage international actors. Cheung stated that Lai's objective was to attract the notice of Western democratic nations. The hope was that these countries would offer support and potentially take more assertive measures, such as imposing sanctions, in response to the situation in Hong Kong.
Context of the Extradition Bill

The calls for protests and international attention occurred in the context of a proposed extradition bill. Lai believed this legislation, which would have permitted the transfer of individuals from Hong Kong to mainland China for trial, was intended as a tool to curtail the territory's democratic rights and freedoms. Although the bill was eventually withdrawn, it ignited widespread pro-democracy protests throughout the city.

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Did Jimmy Lai instruct staff to draw Western attention to Hong Kong protests?

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