A series of articles in the now-closed Hong Kong tabloid Apple Daily ran under the heading “End of the two systems” to reflect founder Jimmy Lai Chee-ying’s views on the impact the Beijing-imposed national security law had on the city, the newspaper’s former publisher told a court on Friday.
The “two systems” refers to Hong Kong’s “one country, two systems” governing principle, designed to retain the city’s way of life and guarantee its freedoms as part of the country.
Cheung Kim-hung, Lai’s former top aide turned prosecution witness, also told the court that his ex-boss’ commentaries about the security law focused on showing support for foreign sanctions on Beijing, to prevent further clamping down on human rights and democracy in Hong Kong.
The 22nd day of the high-profile national security trial continued with Cheung, the first accomplice prosecution witness, appearing in court to testify against his 76-year-old former employer.
Re-examining Cheung, prosecutors on Friday presented three Apple Daily articles published on July 5, 8 and 23, 2020. The news reports were under a series about the national security law, which took effect on June 30, and all carried the title “End of the two systems” as the header.
“Who decided the name of the series?” Mr Justice Alex Lee Wan-tang asked.
“On the day the national security law took effect, this phrase also appeared on the front page of the newspaper,” Cheung told the court.
“That was in line with Mr Lai’s belief that ‘one country, two systems’ already ended as the law took effect. We therefore adopted this name.”
Lai’s ex-aide denies he turned prosecution witness after he met Hong Kong police
Lai’s ex-aide denies he turned prosecution witness after he met Hong Kong police
Cheung also told the court that the editorial policy set out by Lai did not change after the enactment of the law, and the editorial team had “no choice” but to follow it.
The headline for the three articles also carried a photo in the background that contained a protest flag and the slogan “Liberate Hong Kong; revolution of our times”.
The High Court in 2021 ruled in the city’s first national security trial that the slogan, a rallying cry during the 2019 social unrest, was capable of inciting secession.
“Whose idea was it to put the eight [Chinese] characters next to the title?” Lee asked.
“I don’t remember,” Cheung replied. “But the slogan was extracted from a news photo.”
The judge asked: “Who was in charge of the general news section?”
Cheung said: “Chan Pui-man and she reported to me.”
Chan, a former associate publisher of Apple Daily, started her testimony for the prosecution on Friday afternoon.
Hong Kong mogul Jimmy Lai’s lawyers challenge ex-top aide’s testimony in court
Hong Kong mogul Jimmy Lai’s lawyers challenge ex-top aide’s testimony in court
As she was escorted into the court, Lai, in the dock, had his arms crossed over his chest and looked calmly at her.
Chan’s husband, Chung Pui-kuen, former editor-in-chief of the defunct Stand News who was accused of conspiring to publish “seditious” materials, sat at the front row of the public gallery.
Media tycoon Lai has denied two conspiracy charges of collusion with foreign forces under the national security law, as well as a third count of conspiracy to print and distribute seditious publications under colonial-era legislation.
The Jimmy Lai trial so far: daily updates on his Hong Kong national security case
The Jimmy Lai trial so far: daily updates on his Hong Kong national security case
Cheung, Chan and four other senior executives are currently behind bars pending sentencing after pleading guilty to a charge of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces. The pair and another co-accused have agreed to provide evidence for the prosecution in exchange for lighter penalties.
Chan joined Apple Daily in 1996, a year after the tabloid published its first edition, and rose through the ranks to oversee the publishing of the print version. She was arrested on June 17, 2021.
Ivan Cheung Cheuk-kan, acting assistant director of public prosecutions, asked Chan whether Apple Daily was a newspaper with a political stance. She said Lai, as a founder, had a “clear orientation” of supporting the development of a democratic political reform and respecting freedom and human rights.
The court also revealed that in the month after the security law took effect, senior management at the newspaper had discussed whether to publish the protest slogan.
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Anthony Chau Tin-hang, the deputy director of public prosecutions, presented WhatsApp messages from a group chat that showed Chan telling colleagues to take out the slogan carried on an advertisement by a pro-democracy group.
The court heard that on July 4, 2020, Cheung forwarded a message to colleagues by in-house legal counsel that instructed them to avoid using the slogan in the news pages that he oversaw.
“The press release issued by the government specifically mentioned the slogan ‘Liberate Hong Kong; revolution of our times’ would contravene the national security law,” the message said.
“Therefore starting from today, all drafts containing this slogan cannot be published, I will tell the colleagues about that.”
Senior management except Lai was in the WhatsApp group, as Cheung explained that this facilitated “free discussions” among colleagues about sensitive issues in the absence of their former boss.
The trial continues on Monday.
