Former media boss Jimmy Lai Chee-ying has said he was willing to “take risks” after Hong Kong’s adoption of the national security law five years ago, but maintained he would not do anything “specifically illegal” such as instigating foreign sanctions.
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Lai told the court on Friday that while he would not knowingly break the national security law after it took effect in June 2020, he had intended to “play edgeball”, a term previously adopted by a prosecution witness to refer to reporting in a “grey area” of the law.
The founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily tabloid newspaper added he was at the time fighting to retain Hongkongers’ freedom and could not pull himself “very far away” from the national security law’s red lines.
Lai’s oral testimony at West Kowloon Court entered the 49th day as prosecutors pressed on with their cross-examination hoping to show the defendant never stopped triggering hostile responses from overseas governments notwithstanding the national security law.
The 77-year-old has denied two conspiracy charges of collusion with foreign forces and a third of conspiracy to print and distribute seditious publications.
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At the starting of Friday’ hearing, Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Anthony Chau Tin-hang accused some court spectators of disrespectful conduct after Thursday’s session ended by chanting “yellow-skinned Hongkongers, add oil”, an apparent mockery of a judge questioning Lai’s view on his nationality.