2024-04-08 04:59:50
Real-time updates｜On the 55th day of the trial of Jimmy Lai’s case, Li Yuxuan confirmed to attend the Transnational Inter-Parliamentary Union meeting on China policy
Next Media founder Jimmy Lai and three companies related to “Apple Daily” were charged with “conspiracy to collude with foreign forces” and other crimes. The case started on the 55th day of the trial at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts (Provisional High Court) on Monday (8th) , the fourth accomplice witness Li Yuxuan testified on the twelfth day. Li Tingshang confirmed that he had attended a meeting of the “Transnational Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China Policy” in July 2020.
The case was adjourned last week. On the 28th of last month, the prosecution showed communications between Lee and Pei Lund, a member of the British Conservative Party Human Rights Commission in June 2020, before the National Security Law came into effect. Pei Lund mentioned the need to find ways to use Hong Kong to “defeat the CCP” , and “Hong Kong will be implicated.” Li replied that Hong Kong people are happy to play this role. He added in court that “role” meant “soliciting speculation” and confirmed that he was willing to pay the price. The conversation also showed that he and Pei Lunde argued about solving the Hong Kong issue. Li believed that “the primary goal is to establish Hong Kong” and “overthrowing the CCP” is secondary, or it may be just a means to “liberate Hong Kong.”
The case was heard by Du Libing, Li Sulan and Li Yunteng, judges designated by the National Security Law of the High Court. The prosecution was represented by Deputy Crown Prosecution Commissioner Chow Tin Hang, Assistant Crown Prosecution Commissioner Cheung Cheuk-kin, and Senior Prosecutor Chan Ying-chen; Jimmy Lai was represented by Senior Counsel Pang Yao-hong, Barrister Kwan Man-wai, and New Zealand Queen’s Counsel Marc Corlett, who is qualified to practice in Hong Kong.
12:04 The prosecution questions the SWHK IPAC TG group messages
The prosecution showed that Perund sent an IPAC Twitter link to the SWHK IPAC (Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China Policy) TG group on July 19, 2020. The post forwarded the British “Sunday Times” report “TikTok shelves plan for global HQ in Britain> (TikTok shelved plans to set up a headquarters in the UK), calling it “excellent reporting”, “Thank you to #IPAC co-chair @MPIainDS for tabling an amendment to the Extradition Bill last week and to @SarahChampionMP for supporting .” (Thanks to IPAC co-chairman Shi Zhian for submitting the revised draft of the “Fugitive Offenders Ordinance” last week, and Congressman Chai Ping-yen for his support).
The prosecution asked, had the UK suspended its extradition agreement with Hong Kong at that time? Li Yuxuan said he was not sure. Li also pointed out that he ignored Pei Lunde’s message at the time and now saw the above-mentioned Twitter post for the first time.
11:20 Short break
10:47 The prosecution asked Chongguang’s team about letters sent to three countries urging the suspension of the extradition agreement with Hong Kong.
The prosecution showed the statement of the Canadian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on July 3, 2020, which mentioned that in response to the entry into force of the National Security Law, the implementation of the Canada-Hong Kong extradition agreement was suspended. The prosecution also showed the TG messages between Li Yuxuan and Perlund. Perlund sent Li a Twitter post from IPAC (Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China Policy), mentioning that Canadian IPAC co-chairman and Congressman Garnett Genuis and former Canadian Minister of Justice and Attorney General Irwin Cotler were consistent Agreeing to Canada’s suspension of the surrender of fugitives, describing “the good news from Canada today”, Perlund said “Please tell SWHK to Rt (Re-tweet)”.
The prosecution asked, did Li use SWHK (Chong Guang Team) to repost the post? Li said he didn’t remember. The prosecution showed that SWHK reposted a statement from the Canadian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Twitter and said, “Thank You #Justin Trudeau and Canadian citizens for standing with #HongKong and suspends the extradition treaty with Hong Kong. and suspend the Canada-Hong Kong extradition agreement)” Li Yuebi posted that SWHK seemed to have forwarded the relevant post while he was sleeping.
The prosecution also showed three letters sent by SWHK to the foreign ministries of the Czech Republic, Ireland and Portugal, calling for the suspension of the countries’ extradition agreements with Hong Kong. The prosecution asked, how did Li obtain the letter? Li said, “I don’t remember which one was given to me as a reference. One was SWHK, the other was Luke (Pelund).” The prosecution asked, why should it be used as a reference? Lee said that because SWHK knew that he was involved in discussing the extradition agreement or conducting international lobbying with different parliamentarians, it gave him a sample letter.
The prosecution asked, are the Czech Republic, Ireland and Portugal members of IPAC? Li said that Ireland and Portugal were not, and he did not remember whether the Czech Republic was one of the original members, but he knew that the subsequent Czech co-chairman of IPAC was Pavel Fischer. The prosecution asked, because Ireland and Portugal are not members of IPAC, so Lee prepared an independence letter to those countries? Li replied that he didn’t know because the three letters were written by other SWHK members and would be followed up by others, so there was no need for Li to deal with them.
10:19 The prosecution displays the minutes of the Trans-Japan Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China Policy meeting
Show discussion not to extradite anyone to Hong Kong or China
The “Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China Policy” (IPAC) meeting minutes displayed by the prosecution showed that attendees included Canadian IPAC co-chairman and Congressman Garnett Genuis, former Canadian Minister of Justice and Attorney General Irwin Cotle, European IPAC co-chairman Kimberley Kitching, etc. The record also shows that the goal of the meeting was “Request your government for concrete in writing publicly that no one shall be extradited to Hong Kong or China regardless of nationality” extradited to Hong Kong or China)”, “Make an assurance that no extradition will be carried out as stated in (1) under the law by way of reviewing the current law and termination of the extradition agreement agreement to ensure that the extradition referred to in subparagraph (1) will not be carried out in accordance with the law).
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The prosecution asked, was the above the objective of the meeting? Li said, “It’s so understandable.” He explained that if some countries fail to amend their extradition regulations, he hopes to encourage those countries to publicly declare that they do not support the extradition regulations, “which can provide some assurance in a way.” He continued that directly changing the law or canceling the extradition bill would have better results than the government’s public statement, but the former is more difficult to implement, and the government’s public statement is “easier to do.”
The prosecution also asked, was the above goal reached by consensus at the meeting? Li replied, “It should be said that there was no consensus in this meeting,” because it can be seen from the meeting minutes that parliamentarians from various countries were just discussing the extradition bill, and “different MPs (members) spoke and things that he said were listed.” He also described the meeting as “different MPs throwing different ideas” or the country’s concerns. In addition, the meeting was the first meeting of IPAC, so it did not reach a consensus level.
10:05 Li Yuxuan confirmed that he had attended the “Transnational Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China Policy” meeting
Judge Du Libing said in the last trial that she was injured while using scissors. She said at the beginning of the court hearing on Monday that she had received stitches. Prosecutor Zhou Tianxing also revealed that Li Yuxuan’s examination is expected to be completed in 1 to 2 days.
The prosecution mentioned earlier that members of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China Policy (IPAC) held a group meeting on July 3, 2020 to discuss whether to review the fugitive surrender agreement with Hong Kong.
The prosecution on Monday showed a TG conversation between Lee and Luke de Pulford, a member of the British Conservative Party Human Rights Commission and a co-founder of IPAC. Pulford sent Lee an IPAC Twitter link on July 4, mentioning “Last night 16 #IPAC Co -Chairs met (16 IPAC co-chairs held a meeting last night)”. Li Ting confirmed that he was an attendee of the IPAC meeting.
TG messages also showed that Li told Pei Lunde the night before the meeting, “shiori said it’s hard for her to join now, and asks for a summary afterwards, should I join and take notes for her? or you can send a debriefing for her ? (Shizakura Kanno said she is having difficulty joining now and would like a summary of the meeting. Should I join the meeting and take notes for her? Or can you send a report to her?)” Pei Lunde replied “OK”.
The prosecution asked whether Li had written meeting minutes for the then Japanese lawmaker Shiozato Sugano. Li said he did not remember that he was involved in writing the minutes of the meeting. At that time, “Sam” or “Andrew” should have helped record the contents.
The prosecution showed a Japanese meeting record found from Li’s computer. The chairman was former Conservative Party leader Iain Duncan Smith, and attendees included the “IPAC Office.” The prosecution asked, who represents the “IPAC Office”? Li said that Pei Lunde was present at the time, and “Sam” or “Andrew” helped record the content. Li himself did not represent IPAC.
10:04 Court starts
Case number: HCCC51/2022
1712567162
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