Hong Kong’s Jimmy Lai wasn’t worried about being a national security law target

Lai, 77, has pleaded not guilty to two charges of conspiring to collude with foreign powers under the 2020 security law and a third charge of conspiring to print and distribute seditious publications in violation of colonial-era legislation.

On Friday, the court heard Lai tell what he knew about prosecution witness turned activist Andy Li Yu-hin.

A day earlier, the former media owner had told the court that he had been lobbying “sort of” during a 2019 meeting with then-US vice president Mike Pence and then-secretary of state Mike Pompeo.

But he stressed that lobbying for him meant “international support” and would involve Hongkongers staging “demonstrations on the moral high ground” and gaining the sympathy of the international community.

He rejected claims by deputy lawyer Wayland Chan Tsz-wah, who became a prosecution witness after pleading guilty to colluding with foreign powers, that Lai hoped young campaigners would one day help overthrow central and city officials.