Apple Daily founder Jimmy Lai and three associated companies face charges of “conspiracy to collude with foreign forces” as the trial entered its 156th day on Thursday.

Defense lawyers had earlier invited the court to take judicial notice of several matters—such as whether China had imposed sanctions on certain individuals and whether the United States had sold arms to Taiwan—meaning to accept them as facts without the need for evidence. The judges ruled these issues were irrelevant to the case and refused to adopt judicial notice. Both prosecution and defense completed their closing arguments yesterday. The court did not announce when a verdict would be delivered, saying only that parties would be notified in due course.

Lai told to stop greeting spectators
The hearing resumed at West Kowloon Court, which is serving as a temporary High Court. Lai appeared in a beige suit and thick-rimmed black glasses, escorted into the dock by four correctional officers. After sitting down, he waved, pressed his palms together, and gave a thumbs-up to people in the public gallery, greeting supporters in different ways. A correctional officer standing beside him signaled for him to stop.

According to the prosecution, Jimmy Lai continued to advocate for sanctions, blockades, or other hostile actions after the implementation of the Hong Kong National Security Law. In his interview program Live Chat with Jimmy Lai, he suggested that imposing a technology embargo on China could enhance Taiwan’s “strategic position” and allow the United States to use Taiwan as leverage against China.

In its earlier written closing submissions, the defense also touched on issues related to sanctions and Taiwan affairs, including references to China having imposed sanctions on certain individuals, the United States maintaining “robust relations” with Taiwan, and U.S. arms sales to Taiwan. The defense invited the court to take judicial notice of these matters.

The judges delivered their ruling yesterday, rejecting the request, stating that whether China had imposed sanctions on certain individuals or whether the United States had sold arms to Taiwan was irrelevant to the case.

Defense to Submit Revised Written Closing Submissions Next Monday

The judges revealed that Jimmy Lai’s written submissions also argued that Apple Daily was influential and resonated with society, that the United Nations General Assembly had consistently recommended the imposition of sanctions, and that the duties of former U.S. Consul General to Hong Kong James Cunningham—alleged to have connections with Lai—were relevant to the case. The court held that there was no evidence to support any of these three claims, and that they amounted only to the defense’s opinion.

Both prosecution and defense completed their oral closing submissions yesterday. The defense will submit a revised written version of its closing submissions next Monday (September 1). Before adjournment, senior counsel Robert Pang asked when the court expected to hand down its ruling, calling it a “bold” question. Judge Esther Toh responded, “We will inform the parties in good time.”