Jailed Hong Kong media tycoon Lai testifies 1st time in 4 years

Lai, 76, made his defense before the West Kowloon Court, where security was beefed up as one of the co-founders of the now-closed Apply Daily had lined up to observe the proceedings.

Lai denied “using powerful friends to influence US foreign policy against Hong Kong,” the daily South China Morning Post reported as the proceedings continued.

He has pleaded not guilty to two charges of colluding with foreign forces, as well as a sedition charge.

If convicted, Lai could be jailed for life.

His trial began last year on Dec. 18 and through the next three weeks, lawyers are expected to pose questions and cross-examine Lai.

Lai has been held at the maximum-security Stanley Prison and the Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre for the past three years and 11 months after his arrest in December 2020.

His arrest followed year-long anti-government demonstrations in Hong Kong in 2019, following which China imposed a controversial national security law in the semi-autonomous region.

The media tycoon's case falls under the same law.

Later, Hong Kong implemented its own version of the law.

Lai’s appearance in court came a few days after Hong Kong convicted 45 opposition activists over subversion.

Criticism by Western nations against arrests and trial of activists by Hong Kong courts has invited sharp rebuke from China.

Hong Kong was returned to China in 1997 until when it was a colony of the UK.​​​​​​​

Reacting to Lai's testifying in the trial court, China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian called the media tycoon a "major mastermind and participant of the anti-China riots in Hong Kong."

He "is an agent and pawn of the anti-China forces," Lin told reporters in Beijing.

The regional government "upholds national security in accordance with the Basic Law and the National Security Law for Hong Kong, which is well-founded in law and reason and beyond reproach," Lin added.