'Jimmy Lai wanted Finn Lau to be a political star'

The trial of Apple Daily founder Jimmy Lai on Friday heard he intended to groom a key figure linked to the 2019 unrest, Finn Lau, to become a "political star", but that Lau was cool to the idea. Testifying for another day as an accomplice witness, paralegal Chan Tsz-wah spoke about a meeting in Taiwan in January 2020 that he, Lai, Lau and others attended. The trial heard the Apple Daily founder wanted to cultivate Lau by offering him £10,000 in living expenses and helping to build a political network, with the aim of causing the collapse of the Chinese government and economy. Chan said Lai's anti-China policy also included economic blockades and sanctions. But the court was told that Lau "did not want to become a political star". Chan also said Lai wanted to support political newcomers in the pan-democratic primaries in the 2020 Legco elections. The former media tycoon has denied three conspiracy charges relating to collusion with foreign forces and sedition. The trial continues.