Hong Kong activists call Jimmy Lai ‘mastermind’ in security case

Armed police stand guard as a prison van carrying Andy Li, one of the 12 activists intercepted by mainland authorities in August 2020 on a boat allegedly en route to Taiwan, arrives at the high court, in Hong Kong, China Aug 19, 2021. - Reuters

HONG KONG (Bloomberg): A pair of Hong Kong activists identified Jimmy Lai and a former aide as "masterminds” in campaign to sanction China, as part of plea deal that strengthens the government’s national security case against the jailed media tycoon.

Activist Andy Li and legal assistant Chan Tsz-wah agreed to the description Thursday (Aug 19) in the High Court after entering guilty pleas to conspiracy to collude with foreign forces to endanger national security.