Political prisoner trial developments in Hong Kong this week (26 February - 1 March)

Trial of Jimmy Lai

The long-anticipated trial of Jimmy Lai opened on Monday 18 December 2023. Jimmy Lai is a British citizen who founded the now-defunct newspaper Apple Daily, the largest pro-democracy newspaper in Hong Kong. Mr Lai faces three charges under Hong Kong’s Beijing-imposed National Security Law (NSL) which carries a maximum punishment of life in prison, and one charge for “conspiracy to publish seditious publications” under the colonial-era sedition law. A long-time critic of the Chinese Communist Party, Mr Lai is one of the most high-profile pro-democracy activists who have been arrested under the NSL.

Development: Chan Pui-man continues to testify against Jimmy Lai

Chan Pui-man, Jimmy Lai’s former colleague who is a former associate publisher at Apple Daily, continued to testify against Jimmy Lai this week. She is one of six senior Apple Daily employees who pleaded guilty to conspiring to collude with foreign forces in November 2022, and she will be sentenced after Jimmy Lai’s trial.

In her testimony, Ms Chan shared how Jimmy Lai and Apple Daily were critical of the government, and prioritised reporting on police brutality. She stated that Mr Lai would issue instructions to Apple Daily employees via press releases, including urging employees to “amplify the voices of protesters” during a clash in the Legislative Council on 1 July 2019. 

Jimmy Lai’s assistant Mark Simon was accused of sending Ms Chan a tweet by former US Vice President Mike Pence which mentioned his meeting with Mr Lai. The court also questioned an article by Apple Daily about the US sanctions list, which included top Hong Kong officials such as then Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Carrie Lam. 

Since the start of his national security trial, Jimmy Lai has pleaded not guilty and encouraged his former colleagues to testify against him, so that they have reduced sentences.

Other Development: ‘Grandpa Chan’ charged for displaying protest banners in Hong Kong park

Chan Ki-kau, informally known as ‘Grandpa Chan’, appeared at the Kowloon City Magistrates’ Courts following his arrest and bail four months ago for displaying protest banners on the iconic Lion Rock peak in Hong Kong. He was accused of violating Country Parks and Special Areas Regulations, which prohibit visitors from displaying banners, signs, posters, notices and advertisements unless granted permission. Offenders face up to three years’ imprisonment and a HK$2,000 fine. Grandpa Chan was granted bail and is expected to return to court on 26 April 2024.

香港政治犯審訊每週簡報（2024年2月26日至3月1日）

黎智英案

黎智英的《國家安全法》案件經數度延期後，終於在2023年12月18日開審。黎智英是英國公民，創辦了香港最大型民主派報紙《蘋果日報》，《蘋果》現已停運。他被控「串謀勾結外國勢力」等三項《國安法》控罪，最高可判處終身監禁，另被控一項殖民時代煽動法下的「串謀發布煽動刊物」罪。黎智英長期批評中國共產黨，是因《國安法》被捕而備受關注的社運人士之一。

案件發展：陳沛敏繼續出庭指證黎智英

第二名控方證人、前《蘋果》副社長陳沛敏本週繼續出庭指證黎智英。

辯方開始盤問陳沛敏，陳同意《蘋果》在2019年至2020年對政府較為批判，報導警暴的目的是游說當權者約束警方過分使用武力。辯方問及黎沒仔細管理編採事務的說法是否公道，陳回答視乎事件；指如有黎重視的新聞，例如七一佔領立法會事件，他會給予指示。

黎智英開審時否認全部控罪。

其他事件：「陳伯」登獅子山展示對聯 被控沒許可證展示條幅 案件押後至4月26日再訊