Hong Kong tycoon Jimmy Lai promoted unofficial primary election in 2020 and planned to back localist candidates to boost opposition, trial told
- Lai trial told his blessing of localist candidates could increase opposition chances of winning control of Legislative Council
- Witness says Lai told him he had obtained quote from European company to supply computer app to run unofficial vote
Chan added Lai believed mainstream opposition parties could also benefit from the primary as the losing candidates’ votes would eventually go to those who represented the camp in the main event.
Chan added that Lai said the involvement of political novices could raise the unofficial poll’s legitimacy.
Lai also revealed to Chan that he had obtained a quote from a European firm for the supply of a computer application to run the unofficial vote.
Chan turned prosecution witness after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to collude with foreign forces in 2021.
He told the court of a meeting with Lai’s right-hand man Mark Simon in Sha Tin’s Hyatt Regency Hotel in early December 2019.
Chan said Simon, who previously worked for US naval intelligence, had told him the opposition’s triumph was inevitable and praised an election observation mission organised by SWHK so overseas parliamentarians could watch the voting process.
“He thought the mission was well executed, just as they wanted,” Chan said, referring to Simon and Lai.
Simon said Lai decided to reward Chan by giving him control over the bank account of one of his shell companies in the British Virgin Islands so the paralegal could start his own business.
Chan approached Simon in December 2019 for help with the arrangements for a series of meetings in Washington so activist Andy Li Yu-hin, a core SWHK member, could lobby US politicians.
Lai invited Chan and Lau to meet the late Taiwan democracy activist Shih Ming-teh, whom the tycoon described as “a true revolutionary”, at his villa in Taipei’s Yangmingshan in mid-January 2020.
Chan said one reason Lai organised the visit was that he hoped to convince Lau in person to join his initiative.
The trial continues on Friday.