Police flag Twitter activity, founding of Apple Daily English in allegations against Jimmy Lai
蘋果日報 2020/12/12 20:27
The Hong Kong police have cited Apple Daily founder Jimmy Lai’s comments and actions both before and after the enactment of the national security law in accusing him of colluding with foreign forces, the Apple Daily has learned.
It is understood that this includes activity on his Twitter account, live chats with commentators and the founding of an English version of his newspaper.
The police have also accused Lai of having connections with the online group “Fight for Freedom, Stand with Hong Kong,” which advocated for foreign sanctions. Lai’s activities before the implementation of the national security law were part of the allegations, including his meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on July 8 last year, and his calls for sanctions in an interview with Apple Daily.
Allegations against Lai also mentioned Andy Li, a core member of “Fight for Freedom Stand with Hong Kong,” who issued a pro-protest ad in the Japanese Nikkei newspaper in August last year with the help of activist Agnes Chow. A Canada-based hotel company paid for the HK$1.47 million (US$189,600) in ad fees, with Lai alleged to be the majority stakeholder of the company.
Apple Daily understands that the police highlighted the 73-year-old’s meeting with U.S. politicians including Republican Senator Ted Cruz and four others, as well as his alleged attendance of a speech given by the U.S. Vice President Mike Pence in October last year.
Lai’s opinion pieces critical of mainland China, and interviews with international media were also among the allegations.
It is also understood that Lai’s Twitter account, which he opened in May, was also part of the allegations against him. Lai’s account had followed foreign politicians including Pompeo, White House spokesperson Kayleigh McEnany, Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Natan Sharansky, Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen and British activists Benedict Rogers and Luke de Pulford.
A tweet tagging U.S. President Donald Trump telling him to impose financial sanctions on mainland Chinese officials on May 27 — a month before the national security law was enacted — was also flagged by the police. It is also understood that the police mentioned the founding of Apple Daily’s English edition in June as part of the allegations against Lai.
The police have alleged Lai of continuing to conduct acts critical of mainland China after the law was enacted, including penning opinion pieces, tweeting and participating in live chats with U.S. journalist Nick Kristof, former South China Morning Post chief editor Mark Clifford and U.S. academic Perry Link.
Lai did not stop his actions after he was arrested under the national security law on Aug. 10, and only stopped tweeting after he was remanded for a fraud charge, the police have alleged.
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