By Jessie Pang and Edward ChoHONG KONG (Reuters) - The first prosecution witness to testify in a landmark national security case against Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai said on Wednesday he had been instructed by Lai to call people to join protests in 2019 and draw the attention of western democracies.
The witness, Cheung Kim-hung, said Lai believed a proposed law that would allow people in Hong Kong to be sent to China to face trial in courts controlled by the Communist Party would be used to crackdown on the territory's democracy and freedoms.
He told the court that the image of Lai "was all along very clear, who pursued democracy, freedom and was anti-totalitarian".
Hong Kong officials say Lai will receive a fair trial.
Both Chinese and Hong Kong officials have said the national security laws were vital to restoring stability in Hong Kong.
Persons:
Jessie Pang, Edward Cho HONG, Jimmy Lai, Lai, Cheung Kim, Cheung, Hong, Apple, Chan Pui, Yeung Ching, kee, Andy Li, Chan, Edward Cho, Dorothy Kam, Greg Torode, Neil Fullick
Organizations:
Reuters, Hong, Communist Party, Apple, Next
Locations:
Edward Cho HONG KONG, Hong Kong, China, Beijing, Britain, United States