diff --git a/_collections/_hkers/2024-03-15-chinas-food-security.md b/_collections/_hkers/2024-03-15-chinas-food-security.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..e9b4199f --- /dev/null +++ b/_collections/_hkers/2024-03-15-chinas-food-security.md @@ -0,0 +1,182 @@ +--- +layout: post +title : China’s Food Security +author: Kevin Dong, et al. +date : 2024-03-15 12:00:00 +0800 +image : https://i.imgur.com/h50rhLP.jpeg +#image_caption: "" +description: "Key Challenges and Emerging Policy Responses" +excerpt_separator: +--- + +_Feeding China’s vast population is a priority issue for Beijing, given historic ramifications of famines and food crises for social and regime stability._ _Yet the task is vast — China must feed nearly 20 percent of the global population but is home to under 10 percent of the world’s arable land — and the challenges to stable food supply are many. These include inefficient agricultural practices, supply chain bottlenecks, changing consumption habits, international trade dynamics, domestic environmental degradation, corruption and data misrepresentation, and a history of food safety scandals. Diagnosing a more contentious international environment, Xi Jinping has placed greater emphasis on agricultural self-sufficiency and diversified sourcing of critical inputs, foodstuffs, technology and know-how. This brief explores key trends, challenges, and policy measures in China’s pursuit of food security. It is part of a joint CSIS-Brookings Institution project, Advancing Collaboration in an Era of Strategic Competition, which seeks to explore and expand the space for U.S.-China collaboration on matters of shared concern._ + + +### Introduction + +In December 2013, Chinese president Xi Jinping gave a speech at the Central Rural Work Conference of the Communist Party of China stating that China “cannot allow the recent, steady gains we have achieved in grain production to lull us into a false sense of security. We should not forget about the suffering caused by previous famines just because we have managed to recover. Rather, we should recognize that the issue of food security is a red line that would trigger terrible consequences were it ever to be compromised . . . we must adhere to the national food security strategy that puts [China] first.” + +Any nation’s food security is essential to the prosperity and health of its people. And China must feed nearly 20 percent of the global population, despite being home to less than 10 percent of the world’s arable land and 6 percent of the world’s water resources. This translates into just 0.08 hectares per capita of arable land for the people of China, far lower than the 0.48 hectares of arable land per capita in the United States. + +Historically, famines and food crises in China have sometimes catalyzed political upheavals and regime collapse, underscoring for Beijing the national stability ramifications of securing a steady supply of food. Indeed, China’s State Council has cast food security as a “ballast stone” of the country’s overall national security. + +China’s leaders are seeking to sustain and improve the country’s food security amid myriad challenges, including inefficient agricultural practices, supply chain logistics bottlenecks, international trade dynamics, changing consumption habits, water scarcity, and domestic environmental degradation. This research paper details China’s pursuit of food security — highlighting key trends, challenges, and policy measures, along with their impacts. + + +### The Significance of Food Security in China + +For millennia in China, food security has been inextricably tied with social stability. Food scarcity and famine have often played a central role in triggering violent upheaval. The last Chinese imperial government — the Qing Dynasty (1644–1911) — saw major famines between 1810 to 1907 that resulted in the deaths of tens of millions. These periods of starvation were often followed by or served as catalysts for major rebellions and deadly conflicts that weakened imperial control and worsened socioeconomic conditions in the empire — all of which contributed to the dynasty’s collapse. + +With the establishment of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in 1949, the country’s Communist-led government faced several immediate challenges to ensure a steady and sufficient food supply. In the aftermath of decades of foreign invasion and civil war, China’s citizens were among the poorest in the world. The country’s agricultural labor force was barely recovering from years of mass conscription and movements from the countryside to escape the war. Furthermore, the populace of around 550 million people was rapidly growing. Under Chairman Mao Zedong, the PRC carried out land reforms in the countryside, eliminated private landownership, and established agricultural collectives along similar lines to the Soviet Union’s state-controlled collectivized approach. China saw initial success in increasing agricultural output by nearly 4 percent annually from 1952 to 1958. Increased irrigation throughout the country also improved yields from the collectivized farms. + +However, many of the gains made would soon be reversed under Mao’s attempt to achieve rapid industrialization through the policies of the Great Leap Forward (1958–1962). Under this initiative, farmers were assigned to make steel in backyard furnaces instead of cultivating crops — which, given their inexperience, often resulted in inefficient production that generated commercially unusable pig iron. Local officials inflated crop production numbers to obscure the adverse effects of Mao’s policies, creating an illusion of superabundance. Cadres had farmers following badly planned directives, such as the abandonment of traditional Chinese agricultural techniques in favor of disastrous pseudo-scientific ideas influenced by Soviet agronomist Trofim Lysenko. + +The agricultural sector was further strained by a series of natural disasters, including the 1958 flooding of large parts of northern China and droughts in 1960–1961. These failures contributed to the food security crisis known as the “Three Years of Great Famine,” which caused upwards of 30 to 40 million deaths throughout China — the largest famine in modern history. In the aftermath, Mao would briefly step down, and the Communist Party returned to a more science-based set of agricultural practices. + +Chinese scientists played a key role in alleviating starvation and contributing to the global Green Revolution. Renowned agronomist Yuan Longping rejected the theories of Lysenko and discovered a type of hybrid rice in the 1960s that could increase crop yields by over 20 percent. By the late 1990s, this hybrid rice would go on to feed an additional 100 million Chinese citizens. In 2017, Yuan’s hybrid rice would make up over 60 percent of the country’s rice production and would be grown in over 60 countries worldwide. + +The ascension of Chairman Deng Xiaoping in 1978 led to gradual market-oriented economic reforms. In the countryside, this meant phasing out collective farms in favor of household ownership. Households were allowed to sell crops that were grown beyond government quotas, thus incentivizing increased yields. Agricultural outputs rose from 2.7 percent per year in 1978 to 7.1 percent annually during the five years following the reforms. This contributed to a significant reduction in undernourishment, defined by the World Bank as habitual food consumption insufficient to provide the dietary energy levels required to maintain a normal active and healthy life. As late as 2001, around 10 percent of China’s population faced undernourishment, a figure that declined to below 2.5 percent by around 2010 (see Figure 1). + +![image01](https://i.imgur.com/fAPKTqT.png) +_▲ Figure 1: Prevalence of Undernourishment in China_ + +China’s accession to the World Trade Organization in 2002 exposed the country’s agricultural producers to global markets, leading to increasing exports and imports of foodstuffs. The availability of imports enabled a meaningful shift in Chinese consumer preferences. In addition, attention to food safety grew in the aftermath of a series of food and agricultural contamination scandals in the early 2000s. Under President Hu Jintao, the PRC would codify new laws standardizing food production and prosecute hazardous food distribution practices in 2009. Given their country’s history, China’s leaders today are acutely aware of the stakes of food security — as a failure to secure a stable food supply could kindle collective grievances and provoke challenges to their authority, potentially destabilizing the regime. + + +### Strategies for Food Security under Xi Jinping + +Since coming to power, Xi Jinping’s government has made food security a national priority. Reflecting the importance Beijing places on the issue, in March 2023 a book of “Excerpts of Xi Jinping’s Discussions on National Food Security” was published by the Chinese Central Literature Publishing House. The book covered more than 80 speeches, reports, talks, letters, and instructions from Xi Jinping related to food security since 2012. A central theme of the book is Xi’s admonition that food security is a matter of economic and political importance. The book includes a warning published by the People’s Daily, the party’s mouthpiece, that “whether [the Chinese government] can give the common people a satisfactory account of food [security] is a major test of our ability to govern. If our party is in power in China, if we can’t even do a good job in food safety, and if we can’t do it well for a long time, some people will ask whether it is enough or not.” + +An April 2019 white paper by the State Council names 16 recent major laws related to food security matters, from seed intellectual property (IP) rights to pesticide administration to grain circulation. In April 2020, the government also published “six guarantees” to inform prioritization of economic policy following Covid-19: employment, basic livelihood, market entities, operations of grassroots organizations and structure, stability of supply chains, and energy and food security. The Central Document No. 1 published in 2023 focused on rural revitalization, and five of the nine areas of focus directly related to food security — specifically grain production, agricultural infrastructure, technology and equipment support, high-quality development of rural industries, and expanding agricultural employment. These documents reflect the central leadership’s framing of food security as an important foundation for achieving economic development, social stability, and national security. + +![image02](https://i.imgur.com/FbW1Pqs.png) +_▲ Figure 2: Distribution of Involvement by Xi Jinping in Food Security Initiat_ + +From 2012 to 2022, Xi Jinping engaged directly on food security topics 67 times, including through domestic province inspections and instructions to local governors on how to manage agricultural production. Xi’s frequent direct monitoring serves as a signal to the rest of the Chinese leadership apparatus of his personal attention to the issue. + +Under Xi Jinping, China has undertaken a multipronged strategy to pursue self-sufficiency in food security, addressing the top challenges facing China today (see Figure 3), as detailed in the following sections. + + +### China’s Top Food Security Challenges + +![image03](https://i.imgur.com/Ri23gl0.png) +_▲ Figure 3: China’s Responses to Food Security Challenges_ + +#### Diminishing Arable Land + +Between 2013 and 2019, China reported a decline of over 5 percent of its arable land, largely attributed to destructive farming practices and local governments repurposing agricultural land for infrastructure and real estate. + +To counteract this decrease, China has embarked on a few pivotal strategies, including the National High-Standard Farmland Construction Plan (2021–2030), a national blueprint for enhancing farmland quality. The blueprint sets goals for farmland creation and upgrading by 2025, 2030, and 2035. It specifies where funding is coming from (a combination of general public budget, bonds, land transfers, etc.), provides annual measures, and lists ways to encourage private entities to invest in the development of high-quality farmland. China has also sought to alleviate some of its demographic shifts by increasing the sustainability and productivity of China’s agricultural output in urban-adjacent locations. + +In addition, the Central Document No. 1 from 2019 sets out a “red line” for arable land: no less than 1.8 billion mu (120 million hectares) nationally. In pursuit of this goal, China has introduced farmland restoration measures, crop rotation practices, and fallow land systems. Additionally, Chinese authorities created a strategy for “reclaiming” farmland by reverting agricultural land that had been repurposed for industry, real estate, and infrastructure. As shown in Figure 4, from 1990 to 2021 China increased the amount of land being sown for crops by 17.45 percent. Furthermore, from 2021 to 2023, Chinese authorities reclaimed more than 170,000 hectares (420,000 acres) of farmland. Nonetheless, reclaiming farmland does not automatically reset its value. Often, the land has become unsuitable for growing. + +![image04](https://i.imgur.com/E0tYfen.png) +_▲ Figure 4: Sown Area of Farm Crops in China (1990–2021)_ + +China also grapples with pronounced geographical disparities in water resources, and many critical grain-producing provinces are water-scarce. Traditional flood irrigation methods, used by most small farms, often result in significant wastage. Overreliance on groundwater extraction, a direct response to this disparity, has spawned significant environmental concerns. To tackle these issues, China is making substantial investments in water-saving technologies, enhancing agricultural irrigation systems, and allocating significant funds — totaling trillions of RMB — to mega projects like the South-North Water Diversion project. The results have been mixed, with some projects showing improved crop production, an increase in farmers’ incomes, and substantial reduction in water usage, while others have created significant inter-provincial conflict over resources and financing. Additionally, long-term environmental impacts of these projects are subject to debate. + +#### Governance Challenges + +China’s pursuit of food security has been stymied by corruption and data misrepresentation. For example, in 2022, the former top official at the National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration (responsible for centralized control over stockpiled grain), Zhang Wufeng, was felled for corruption. Another inherent problem has been the misrepresentation of data by regional and local officials — a consequence of the prevalent incentive structure in the Chinese bureaucratic system, which promotes cadres who report good news and penalizes those who relay unfavorable news. In response, the central government has clarified that it oversees national food security policies, while provincial and local governments bear primary responsibility for making sure every Chinese citizen has enough food to eat. + +China’s legacy of decentralizing farmland, stemming from the household responsibility system (HRS) that originated post-collectivization, also poses challenges. The government’s restrictions on corporate entities acquiring farmland have resulted in a significant dispersion of agricultural resources among individual farmers. This fragmentation hinders technological advancement, marketing, standardization, and coordination within the sector. It also has incentivized farmers to produce cash crops like fruits and vegetables, given their higher returns compared to staple grains. + +#### Changing Consumer Demands + +The dietary preferences and demands of China’s populace — and especially the rapidly expanding urban middle class — have changed substantially over the past few decades. With increasing disposable income and exposure to global cultures, there is growing demand for safer, more varied, and higher-quality food options. The traditional Chinese diet is based on staple grain, high in vegetables, and low in animal products. But as incomes have risen, so too has consumption of refined grains, meats, oils, and sugars. Except for a dip at the beginning of Covid-19 that can be attributed to lack of supply, consumption of meat has more than tripled since 1990, as shown in Figure 5. In urban markets, consumers now seek out specialty items such as organic produce, dairy alternatives, and imported meats. As China’s growing middle class looks set to encompass over 50 percent of its population by 2025, the increasingly affluent population’s demand for meat products will steadily increase — corresponding to growing demand for soy and grain inputs to feed livestock. + +![image05](https://i.imgur.com/ed1aRjH.png) +_▲ Figure 5: Consumption of Meat Products in China (1991–2021)_ + +As shown in Figure 6, food imports have increased dramatically, making China the world’s top importer of foodstuffs. In 2022, China imported approximately 98.3 billion USD in agricultural products, a record high. Even amid geopolitical tensions, China has continued to increase the amount of food it purchases from the United States, specifically non-staple foods like beef and nuts, along with products used for feeding livestock like corn and sorghum grain (see Figure 7). + +![image06](https://i.imgur.com/Yd7yi01.png) +_▲ Figure 6: Food Imports to China by Country (2011–2021)_ + +![image07](https://i.imgur.com/6VVIkp6.png) +_▲ Figure 7: Percent Change in Top 10 U.S. Agricultural Exports to China (2017–2022)_ + +Recently, China has poured resources into research, development, and imports of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and alternative foods. Precision gene-edited crops have been at the forefront of boosting crop yields in the United States for decades. However, despite being the first country to commercialize a transgenic crop in 1992, China has been slow to adopt overarching global GMO technologies. To support local companies in developing GMO IP, Chinese leaders have been reluctant in accepting foreign GMO seed producing companies in the Chinese market. Consumers were also initially hesitant, but public perceptions of genetically modified foods have become more positive in recent years. Recently, the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (China’s national agricultural scientific research organization) laid out a five-year development plan calling for “construction of new key laboratories, a grain crop science center, a molecular design breeding center, a national crop germplasm resource bank, a livestock and poultry bank, and an agricultural microorganism bank.” + +The demand for imported foods also stems from long-standing concerns about domestic food safety. Imported goods are perceived as meeting higher safety and quality standards, making them particularly appealing to a population increasingly concerned with health and wellness. Over the years, the country has faced numerous high-visibility food safety scandals involving adulterated or toxic domestic products, leading to widespread perception that imports are safer than domestic products. One particularly impactful incident in 2008 involved the adulteration of baby formula with melamine, which led to the deaths of six infants and sickened nearly 300,000 others. + +In response, China has improved oversight and regulation of its food industry. The country’s first comprehensive food safety law was enacted in 2009 and has since been amended multiple times. The law encompasses a wide range of regulations aimed at ensuring food quality and consumer safety. It established a licensing system for food production and food operation, along with a safety review system for new foods entering the market. The law also addresses the logistics of food storage and distribution and sets national standards for various aspects of food products — including additives, hygiene, labeling, examination, and packaging — to bring China’s food industry up to international standards. Additionally, the law outlines specific food safety responsibilities for businesses, ranging from manufacturers to retailers, thereby aiming to make the entire food supply chain accountable for adhering to safety norms. + +#### Workforce Dynamics + +The allure of urban life, combined with the promise of better wages, has seen many Chinese individuals leaving the agricultural sector for city-based jobs. Migrant jobs in urban centers offer better pay and seemingly improved prospects for future generations. Sectors such as transportation and logistics that have huge impacts on the agricultural sector also face workforce challenges. By the end of 2021, China faced a shortfall of 4 million truck drivers, an issue that will continue to be exacerbated as the working-age population in the country begins to shrink and people look toward more white-collar jobs. As birth rates decline and the population ages, fewer young people are available to replace the aging workforce, further compounding labor shortages in sectors like agriculture, transportation, and logistics. + +The Chinese government has taken steps to make farming more lucrative and economically viable, beginning in the early 2000s with the abolition of the 2,600-year-old agricultural tax (similar to modern property taxes). Since then, central authorities have continued to reduce or remove taxes on agriculture, aiming to alleviate financial pressures on farmers. In 2006, the government also introduced a support price for wheat: when market prices dip below the annually set minimum price, the government commits to purchasing wheat from farmers at the support price, guaranteeing a level of income for farmers and incentivizing continued cultivation of this specific staple crop. The success of the strategy to support wheat is demonstrated in China’s grain output, which increased between the early 2000s and 2020 (see Figure 8). + +![image08](https://i.imgur.com/c8fjSI3.png) +_▲ Figure 8: China’s Grain Output (1980–2020)_ + +Recently, the government introduced initiatives to bolster farmers’ incomes directly. In April 2023, the Chinese government allocated 10 billion yuan (approximately 1.38 billion USD), in one-time financial subsidies for farmers. However, despite these efforts, attracting younger generations to the farming profession remains a challenge. As recently as 2019, studies have shown that aging populations in rural areas continue to place a drag on agricultural productivity and negatively affect agricultural wages. + +#### Technological and Productivity Issues + +China’s agricultural landscape is uniquely characterized by the prevalence of small family farms dispersed throughout the country, rather than the large factory-farming models in many developed countries. While this model is a cornerstone of the Chinese economy, providing employment to millions, the fragmented nature of farms complicates the dissemination of new agricultural technologies and makes coordination among farmers, standardization of practices, and effective marketing difficult. + +To bridge this divide, China launched the National Agricultural Technology and Education Cloud Platform in 2015. This digital platform promotes knowledge sharing and independent learning among agricultural workers. Farmers provide data on crops, pests, and on-the-ground conditions, and in return they can access online training courses, diagnostic AI, and helplines. Start-ups for strategic AI technologies can tell farmers which insects they are looking at with just a picture and which pesticides they should use to protect their crops. The central government also dispatches specialized expert teams to provinces affected by natural disasters or falling behind in agricultural output to deliver on-the-ground support and promote the popularization of advanced agricultural technology. + +In the early twenty-first century, initiatives like expanding irrigation systems propelled China’s agricultural total factor productivity (TFP) growth — from under 1 percent in the 1970s to an average of 2.48 percent from 2001 to 2010. However, this expansion has fallen in the years since, as China has been unable to maintain a steady rate of agricultural TFP growth through continued policy improvements and investments in agricultural research and development (R&D). China still outperforms every other region except South Asia and the so-called transition countries (former Soviet Union) for agricultural TFP growth, but it will have to work increasingly hard to maintain this advantage. China’s public sector expenditures on agricultural R&D were approximately 6.6 billion USD in 2021, larger than those of India, the United States, and Brazil combined. However, in the United States, the private sector accounts for an additional 15 to 20 billion USD, while in China this number is functionally zero. + +In response to the productivity conundrum, China has embraced R&D solutions. Substantial financial inflows have been directed toward hybrid seed technologies, particularly in the domain of hybrid rice, corn, soybeans, and wheat. China also established “core areas” for production of certain products (e.g., potatoes in Southeast China, double-cropping rice in the Yangtze River Economic Belt). In 2021, amendments to China’s Seed Law strengthened the protection of legal rights and interests of owners of new plant varieties, encouraging R&D of seeds. + +#### Climate Change + +China’s agricultural sector is heavily exposed to climate change. Between 1981 and 2010, shifting climate patterns and ozone pollution collectively slashed China’s crop yields by 10 percent, an annual loss of 55 million tons of crops. As temperatures rise, extreme weather events, melting glaciers, environmental degradation, and water scarcity and contamination will intensify the implications for China’s agriculture. + +China’s focus has been on building resilience and adaptation mechanisms to confront these challenges and shoring up the system’s response to natural disasters. Throughout the 2010s, China made significant investments in mega projects to ameliorate the effects of climate change. More recently, there has been a palpable shift toward promoting the green development of agriculture and encouraging farmers to switch to higher-yield and stress-resistant crops. China is also looking to the oceans to bolster food security, as evidenced in a series of recent initiatives aimed at promoting and streamlining marine aquaculture. In November 2017, the Ministry of Agriculture unveiled the National Mariculture Development Plan (2017–2025). As per this blueprint, China aspires to establish 200 national-level demonstration marine ranches by 2025. In April 2023, President Xi coined the term “blue granary” to describe marine fisheries and mariculture, specifically deep-sea fishing and ranching. Shortly thereafter, Chinese authorities released guidelines on deep-water aquaculture as a key piece of fortifying the agricultural supply chain. + +#### Food Waste + +Between 2014 and 2018, an estimated 27 percent of all food in China was lost or wasted, comparable to global averages. Food waste and loss can occur at any point in the supply chain, from death of livestock to crops damaged by improper storage to expired products thrown out in households. China has made a concerted effort to address food waste through a series of “campaign-style” reforms. In August 2020, President Xi Jinping launched the “Clean Your Plate Campaign 2.0,” modeled on an earlier homonymous anti-corruption initiative. Following the “Clean Your Plate Campaign 2.0,” China introduced the Anti-Food Waste Law in April 2021. This State Council–spearheaded initiative included educational campaigns, regulatory measures against businesses, the introduction of systems for enhanced procurement, storage, and handling practices, and methods for increasing efficiency in food production, with relevant incentives and penalties. + +#### Geopolitical Dynamics + +Following geopolitical shocks including the 2017 trade war with the United States, the Covid-19 pandemic, and the Russian invasion of Ukraine, China has sought to reduce its exposure to external dependencies. This strategy includes ramping up international land acquisition, increasing bilateral and multilateral trade deals, diversifying international supply chains, expanding overseas agricultural activities through projects like the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), and encouraging domestic companies to take their operations global. + +While Chinese acquisition of farmland in the United States has garnered attention in Washington, most of its international land purchases are in Asia and Africa. According to Land Matrix, a European land monitoring organization, between 2011 and 2020 Chinese companies purchased or leased 6.48 million hectares of land for agriculture, forestry, or mining — equivalent to the size of Latvia. Chinese companies purchase arable land in other countries and sell their products back to consumers in China through individual deals as well as through BRI projects and other similar initiatives; China has signed over 100 agricultural cooperation agreements with BRI countries. + +Additionally, China has sought to grow its global influence in food security and governance. China has held the director-generalship of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) since August 2019 and has a position on the World Food Programme (WFP) executive board. China also hosts the WFP Centre of Excellence in China, which takes advantage of China’s experience in reducing poverty and hunger to facilitate activities relevant to the Sustainable Development Goals through training, policy dialogue, and capacity building. + +In October 2019, the State Council Information Office published a white paper titled “Food Security in China” to “provide a full picture of how food security operates in China, in order to increase the international community's understanding in this important field.” It frames China’s role in global food security as opening its market further, upholding WTO obligations, sharing food security expertise and resources, promoting top domestic food businesses to expand internationally, forging food and agriculture cooperation agreements on bilateral and multilateral levels, collaborating on research with nations and global entities, offering emergency food aid as per its capabilities, and actively engaging in global food security governance. + +Furthermore, the Russian invasion of Ukraine has brought into focus the fragility of international food supply chains. The war in Ukraine generated a global spike in food prices, which impacted China disproportionately, given its position as the world’s top importer of foodstuffs. + +A similar challenge arose from China’s draconian Covid-19 regulations. As China scrambled to enforce lockdowns in a bid to curb the virus’s spread, transportation bottlenecks, labor shortages, and logistical challenges threatened the steady flow of essential commodities — including food — both domestically and internationally. While headlines of people locked in their houses in Shanghai made the news, lack of food during lockdowns appears to have been prevalent throughout rural China as well. A study of 2,631 rural households showed that an increase of 100 confirmed Covid-19 cases in a county corresponded with a statistically significant decrease in per capita intake of dietary energy, carbohydrates, fats, and proteins, an effect that was especially pronounced in low-income groups. + +To buffer against such shocks, China has traditionally maintained vast food reserves. Estimates from the U.S. Department of Agriculture projected that in 2022, China possessed 69 percent of global corn reserves, 60 percent of rice, 51 percent of wheat, and 37 percent of soybeans. In recent years, China has increased its investment in stockpiling. The Chinese National Bureau of Statistics reported that 2022 pork production was at its highest level since 2014 and that China bought a record number of soybeans in 2023, both attributed to replenishment of reserves depleted during the pandemic. China also inked an agreement with Russia in September 2023 establishing a new 159 million USD grain hub strategically located on both sides of the border between the Russian Jewish Autonomous Oblast and China’s Heilongjiang Province. Accompanying this deal were agreements to enhance storage and transportation capabilities. A 26 billion USD deal was also inked between Beijing and Moscow in October 2023 to export 70 million tons of grain over the next 12 years. Beijing and Moscow also sought to accelerate the construction of the New Russia–China Land Grain Corridor — a Sino-Russian initiative established in 2012 that would build out infrastructure to allow for the export of more grain by Russia and other Eurasian countries to China. + + +### China’s Future Food Security Path and Implications + +Many challenges will likely influence the PRC’s food security approach in the coming years and decades. On the policymaking front, China’s Food Security Law was recently submitted for deliberation at the third session of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People’s Congress on June 26, 2023. Although the draft is not yet public, writer Gong Yixi from the People’s Congress Multimedia Office has stated that the purpose of the law is to “guarantee effective food supply, ensure national food security, and enhance the ability to prevent and defend against food security risks.” He also states that the law will include provisions on protecting farmland, food production, food reserves, food circulation, food processing, food emergencies, food conservation, supervision, and management. Earlier food security publications from the central government focused on domestic facets of food security, such as farmland reclamation and increasing employment in the agricultural sector. The forthcoming law, by comparison, seems to take a more national security–focused lens. + +As outlined in Figure 9, the newest iteration of the National People’s Congress five-year legislation plan, which sets priority for legislation through 2028, names 10 laws directly related to food security. + +![image09](https://i.imgur.com/RsC7pG2.png) +_▲ Figure 9: Five-Year Legislative Plan of China’s National People’s Congress for 2023–2028 (Laws related to food security)_ + +China has made significant efforts to achieve self-sufficiency in feeding its population. Under Xi, it has channeled substantial resources into strategies for enhancing agricultural productivity, reducing waste, and diversifying sources of supply to avoid overreliance on single markets for food imports. However, the pursuit of absolute self-sufficiency in food security is an improbable, if not impossible, goal. + +The sheer scale of China’s population compared to its share of arable land will continue to pose a significant problem, compounded by environmental constraints. Even with advanced technologies, there are natural limits to how much food can be sustainably produced. Achieving self-sufficiency would likely mean reverting to a diet based primarily on staple foods that does not meet modern nutritional standards and food preferences. Moreover, the concept of self-sufficiency in the globalized era is increasingly outdated. The global food market is intricately connected, and any pursuit of autarkic food self-sufficiency would cause China to lose out on the benefits of a functioning global agricultural market which, while imperfect, does benefit from year-round output and market-based adjustments to address imbalances in supply and demand. + +By necessity, if not by choice, China will have to continue to depend upon imports to meet the food demands of its population. To guard against risks of dependencies, China likely will continue seeking to diversify its sourcing of critical inputs, foodstuffs, technology, and know-how. + +This study makes clear that Xi has set food security as a leader-level priority. He views such efforts as directly linked to China’s national security and to the legitimacy and survivability of the Chinese Communist Party. As the world’s leading importer of foodstuffs, the strategies that China has proposed and initiated will have significant spillover effects on the rest of the world. This makes China’s efforts to enhance its food security not just a matter of concern for China, but indeed an issue of importance across the world. + +--- + +__Kevin Dong__ is senior research assistant for the John L. Thornton China Center at the Brookings Institution. + +__Mallie Prytherch__ is a former research assistant for the John L. Thornton China Center at the Brookings Institution. + +__Lily McElwee__ is deputy director and a fellow with the Freeman Chair in China Studies at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington, D.C. + +__Patricia Kim__ is a fellow at the Brookings Institution and holds a joint appointment to the John L. Thornton China Center and the Center for Asia Policy Studies. + +__Jude Blanchette__ is the Freeman Chair in China Studies at CSIS in Washington, D.C. + +__Ryan Hass__ is director of the John L. Thornton China Center, Chen-Fu and Cecilia Yen Koo Chair in Taiwan Studies, and senior fellow in foreign policy at the Brookings Institution. diff --git a/_collections/_hkers/2024-03-18-trial-of-jimmy-lai-day-47.md b/_collections/_hkers/2024-03-18-trial-of-jimmy-lai-day-47.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..1d2f47ca --- /dev/null +++ b/_collections/_hkers/2024-03-18-trial-of-jimmy-lai-day-47.md @@ -0,0 +1,116 @@ +--- +layout: post +title : 【黎智英案・審訊第卌七日】 +author: 獨媒報導 +date : 2024-03-18 12:00:00 +0800 +image : https://i.imgur.com/LciFH41.jpg +#image_caption: "" +description: "" +excerpt_separator: +--- + +- 李宇軒指Mark Simon借出戶口收眾籌款項 冀成立基金不留港銀行 免受凍結風險 + + + +![image01](https://i.imgur.com/cVGoitS.png) + +【獨媒報導】壹傳媒創辦人黎智英及3間蘋果公司被控串謀勾結外國勢力及串謀刊印煽動刊物等罪,案件今(18日)於高院(移師西九龍法院)踏入第47日審訊。「十二港人」之一李宇軒繼續以「從犯證人」身份出庭作供。李談及2019年8月的第三次眾籌活動,籌得約180萬美元,在提取眾籌款項過程中經歷了一些困難,後來在另一名被告陳梓華的協助下,找來了黎智英的私人助手、被指為本案共謀者之一的 Mark Simon 借出美國的銀行戶口收取眾籌款項,然後轉帳至「Project Hong Kong Trust」的戶口。李提到,當時 Mark Simon 要求成立一個基金來保管眾籌款項,而非把款項轉帳至李的渣打銀行個人戶口,而且需要找美國公民來擔任基金信託人,「盡量將啲錢唔留喺香港銀行系統入面,去減少香港銀行例如凍結呢啲錢嘅風險。」 + +#### 李宇軒指英國登報計劃花光30.8萬英鎊籌款 + +「十二港人」之一李宇軒第四天以「從犯證人」身份出庭作供。就2019年7月的「中英聯合聲明登報」計劃,控方展示報館發票、李宇軒的銀行戶口紀錄,顯示《衛報》(The Guardian)的廣告費用是4萬英鎊。此外,NewStatesman 的廣告費是1,200英鎊,The Spectator 的廣告費則是2,333英鎊。 + +![image02](https://i.imgur.com/k8ylTEW.png) +▲ 網絡截圖(資料圖片) + +李指是次登報的總支出是大約30.8萬英鎊,即是花光所有眾籌款項。李又指除了登報紙廣告費用之外,相關支出還有在「89up」的廣告版、Facebook、Twitter 和 Google 登廣告,也有分別向「89up」和「Whitehouse consultancy」兩間顧問公司支付顧問費。 + +活動開支方面,李指包括印製單張、租借會議室、訂製T恤等雜費。控方問到這些活動是什麼性質。李則指一般來說是「支持香港的活動」,但他不清楚每個活動的性質,因為是「攬炒巴」劉祖廸以及在英國當地的人所舉辦的。 + +#### 英國登報廣告呼籲英政府制裁有份打壓香港自由人權的人士 + +控方展示從李的手機檢取的廣告相片,當中的文字呼籲英國政府向有份打壓香港自由和人權的人實施制裁,又指英國一定要支持香港。 + +控方又留意到廣告提供一個聯署網址,李指「攬炒巴」等人希望將一些廣告轉變成實質的政治行動(concrete political actions),因此以他記憶所及,該聯署是讓英國當地選民找回自己有份投選的國會議員,「跟住搵返佢哋做咩,我唔記得。」李指意思是:「我係你嘅 voter,我想你做一樣嘢,咁我就繼續投票俾你。」 + +#### 李宇軒表示有份成立「Fight for Freedom, Stand with Hong Kong」 + +控方指廣告下方有一組字「Fight for Freedom, Stand with Hong Kong」,問這是否一個組織。李確認是一個組織,並稱:「我係佢嘅一部份。」李指:「係由一班國際嘅香港人,同埋關心香港嘅人去組成,去組成一個 activism 嘅組織,就去爭取當時香港嘅自由民主。」 + +李稱這個組織的創辦人除了他自己之外,還有「攬炒巴」、「Always」、「Madison」和「Shirley Ho」等人。 + +控方其後逐一追問各人身份。李稱「Always」和「Madison」均是網名,但不知他們真實身份。而「Shirley Ho」則是真名,她是一名天文物理學家,當時居住於美國。李指 Shirley Ho 曾經在2019年7月底或8月頭與他一同前往日內瓦,她在同年11月底或12月與他前往美國華盛頓,該次她作為一個監管者(chaperone)角色。 + +控方問到「Fight for Freedom, Stand with Hong Kong」如何成立。李指,在2019年6月的G20登報計劃時,有的報紙會要求登廣告的人使用實名,也有的報紙接受籠統的名字,例如「Free Hong Kong」或「Hongkonger」。李指後來在7月的「中英聯合聲明」登報計劃中,大家希望成立一個統一或大家安心的團體,能夠使用它的名義登廣告,所以 Telegram 群組的人設立一個投票,最終投選出「Fight for Freedom, Stand with Hong Kong」作為團體的名稱,所以是次登報的廣告都是以這個團體的名義。 + +李續指:「到再後期嘅事,呢一個組織或呢班人嗰 scope 擴闊到唔淨只報紙登廣告,不過呢個係後話。」控方追問他們會做什麼事,李則指例如舉辦一些支持香港的活動、與顧問公司合作和在社交媒體登廣告等等。 + +#### 李宇軒確認「攬炒巴」角色是精神領袖、在連登上有號召力 + +控方問及「攬炒巴」在「Fight for Freedom, Stand with Hong Kong」(後稱SWHK)團隊中的角色。李指「佢最 prominent 嘅角色係作為『攬炒巴』。」控方追問是什麼意思,李則指:「啫係佢就係連登上面嘅『攬炒巴』,呢個就係佢最 prominent 嘅 role。」 + +法官李運騰追問「攬炒巴」實際做過什麼事。李稱「攬炒巴」的角色有如早前提及的另一個連登帳號「家樂牌通心粉」,在G20登報期間「家樂牌通心粉」在連登討論區上有號召力,直至「中英聯合聲明」登報期間,就輪到「攬炒巴」在連登上有號召力。 + +李官再問,「攬炒巴」的角色是否作為一名精神領袖。李表示:「可以咁樣理解。」李又指「攬炒巴」是其中一個在「中英聯合聲明登報」計劃中積極參與討論的人,而他的主意與其他 Telegram 群組成員一致,「最 prominent 嘅 role 係佢會喺連登出 post。」 + +李形容:「而佢喺連登出嘅 post,我理解大部份嘅 post 都會有好大嘅迴響,即係好多人會睇佢嘅 post。」法官李運騰問,連登上是否有很多人跟蹤「攬炒巴」的帖文?李則表示不肯定連登有否「追蹤」這個功能,只能說有很多人回應(react to)「攬炒巴」的帖文。李官又問「攬炒巴」是否有很多追隨者?李指:「喺連登上面係。」 + +#### 李宇軒指SWHK曾經舉辦G20報紙展覽 據陳梓華稱《蘋果日報》資助3至4萬元 惟記憶模糊 + +被問及SWHK有否在香港舉辦活動,李宇軒提到,SWHK曾經在大約2019年8月或9月,在灣仔富德樓舉辦一個報紙展,「可以話,去畀喺香港嘅香港人去睇返,原來G20,6月嗰陣,有啲香港人做咗國際登報喎。」因為G20廣告是登在外國的報紙,反而身處香港的人未曾看過這些實體報紙,所以便舉辦這個報紙展覽。 + +![image03](https://i.imgur.com/pSo39uQ.png) +▲ (資料圖片) + +李又表示,相信是一個「G20殘留落嚟嘅小組」,裡面有人提議舉辦展覽。他記得他曾經做過一日義工,負責看管場地和做介紹。 + +控方問到展覽由誰人出資舉辦。李表示開頭不知道,但是在後來知道陳梓華等人,或者陳梓華穿針引線去《蘋果日報》那邊,便資助了3萬或4萬元。他相信當時是陳梓華告訴他,或者陳梓華等人轉達過來的說法(hearsay),不過他不肯定相關詳情。法官遂打斷指,既然李對於自己的證供不肯定,便沒有需要詳述下去。 + +在午飯後,李再補充,T曾經就這個展覽跟他談及有關《蘋果日報》基金的事,不過他不記得詳情,但他肯定他從沒從陳梓華那邊接收過任何錢。就《蘋果》基金在展覽中的角色,李指在活動後段,若他沒有記錯的話《蘋果》基金有提供資助,但是「記憶好模糊」。 + +#### 李宇軒指2019年8月籌辦第三次眾籌登報 + +就2019年8月的第三次眾籌活動,李指因為G20和「中英聯合聲明」先後兩次眾籌登報計劃「都OK成功」,所以兩次眾籌的部份籌辦者,包括李、「攬炒巴」和網名「T」的陳梓華,聯手籌辦了第三次運動,即是「G攬運動」。李指是次運動的主題是喚起國際關注當時香港的民主自由狀況。 + +李指,是次運動分別在美國、英國、加拿大、法國、德國、西班牙、意大利、瑞典、芬蘭和丹麥等國家的報紙登廣告。有人負責聯絡報館,有人負責設計廣告,而負責處理眾籌和墊支的人則是李自己。 + +李又提到「攬炒巴」的角色是在「連登」討論區出帖文,因為當時「『攬炒巴』個 account 勁過『家樂牌通心粉』,我意思係『攬炒巴』個 account 會有多啲迴響,所以由『攬炒巴』喺連登出 post」,宣傳及簡介眾籌計劃。 + +#### 李宇軒指第三次眾籌款項達180萬元美金 需找美國的有錢人借出戶口收款 + +李指第三次眾籌不是限於英國,所以決定使用國際通用的美元為單位,同樣使用眾籌平台「gofundme.com」。至於眾籌款項當時提取至哪一個銀戶口,李則形容「呢個係好長嘅故事」,他指眾籌款項最後被轉移至「Project Hong Kong Trust」在美國 Amalgamated Bank 的戶口,但中間卻經歷了一些困難。 + +李解釋,他們需要借用一個在美國開設的美金戶口來收取眾籌款項,加上款項達180萬元美金,為了避免被懷疑「洗黑錢」,所以不能借用一般的銀行戶口,「咁就要搵喺美國、又咁上下有錢嘅人」來借出銀行戶口。 + +李記得他們首先找到一個在美國的有錢人願意借出戶口,但是當這個人嘗試將款項從眾籌戶口轉移至其銀行個人戶口時,銀行卻未能完成此程序,他理解該筆款項是離開了眾籌戶口,「但是去到收款人戶口時,銀行 hold 住咗條數,就冇入到去個銀行戶口」,可能正在等待釐清一些資料。 + +#### 李宇軒指陳梓華找到Mark Simon借出戶口 + +李續指,後來他們找到另一名在美國的有錢人士協助,當時他不知道該人的身份,後來才知道他是Mark Simon。而李知道眾籌款項成功地轉移至該有錢人的銀行戶口,不久之後,Mark Simon 的銀行戶口便將相關款項轉帳至「Project Hong Kong Trust」的戶口。李補充,嚴格來說他並不知道從眾籌戶口提取款項的人是否 Mark Simon,而他只知道 Mark Simon 轉帳了一筆錢給「Project Hong Kong Trust」戶口。 + +李憶述,他曾經在 Telegram 與網名是「T」的陳梓華討論有關事宜,當第一名美國有錢人未能接收眾籌款項的時候,「我問 T 有冇計,咁佢話佢嗰邊諗吓辦法,eventually 佢話『我搵到人』。」控方問李,陳梓華當時有否提及該人的身份,李回答:「我唔記得佢有冇講,定係佢講咗但我唔記得。」 + +李憶述,直至大約2020年2月,他整理第三次眾籌的收支紀錄期間,查看「Project Hong Kong Trust」的銀行戶口紀錄時,「我見到,噢,原來入錢嗰度寫住 Mark Simon」,而轉帳日子是2019年底或2020年初。 + +#### 李宇軒指Mark Simon要求成立基金保管眾籌款項 美國公民擔任信託人免受風險 + +就「Project Hong Kong Trust」,李指主要有3名美國公民作為這個基金的法律上持有人,其中一個人是 Katherine Cheng ,另外兩名人士則不知道。 + +李指,Mark Simon 當時提出一個要求,他希望把這一筆眾籌款項轉移至一個基金,而不是李的渣打銀行戶口,所以 Mark Simon 替他們聯絡律師並與美國當地的人商討,希望成立一個基金保管這筆錢,而且需要找人擔任信託人,「希望呢啲 trustee 係美國公民,去減低佢哋有可能受到,譬如話香港銀行系統要求佢哋要對啲錢點樣做嘅風險。」李相信以上是由陳梓華轉述給他的。 + +被問到為何 Mark Simon 想成立一個基金,李稱記得當時的討論和分析是,「盡量將啲錢唔留喺香港銀行系統入面,去減少香港銀行例如凍結呢啲錢嘅風險。」 + +#### 李宇軒指陳梓華安排他會見美議員 Mark Simon亦在場 + +李表示當時未曾跟 Mark Simon 溝通,「我知 T(陳梓華)係有同 Mark Simon 傾計」,不過「喺呢個時間點,T 已經 link up 咗我同 Mark Simon」。李提到大約在2019年8或9月,美國參議員斯科特(Rick Scott)訪港,陳梓華安排了他會見斯科特、其助手 Scott Sciretta 及美國領事職員 Alan Brinker,而且 Mark Simon 及其他人亦在場。 + +控方展示「G攬運動」的財務收支紀錄,李確認是次眾籌籌得180萬美元,大約是1,400萬港元。截至2020年3月,支出是大約730萬港元,其中630萬港元用作登報廣告費。 + +李提到後來第四次的眾籌計劃名叫「重光香港計劃」,惟他並沒有參與。 + +案件明日續審。 + +--- + +案件編號:HCCC51/2022 diff --git a/_collections/_hkers/2024-03-19-trial-of-jimmy-lai-day-48.md b/_collections/_hkers/2024-03-19-trial-of-jimmy-lai-day-48.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..11bbf142 --- /dev/null +++ b/_collections/_hkers/2024-03-19-trial-of-jimmy-lai-day-48.md @@ -0,0 +1,116 @@ +--- +layout: post +title : 【黎智英案・審訊第卌八日】 +author: 獨媒報導 +date : 2024-03-19 12:00:00 +0800 +image : https://i.imgur.com/LciFH41.jpg +#image_caption: "" +description: "" +excerpt_separator: +--- + +- 美加登報廣告促制裁及禁售武器予港警 李宇軒:由不同人設計、有關香港民主自由 + + + +![image01](https://i.imgur.com/ELaCoJi.png) + +【獨媒報導】壹傳媒創辦人黎智英及3間蘋果公司被控串謀勾結外國勢力及串謀刊印煽動刊物等罪,案件今(19日)於高院(移師西九龍法院)踏入第48日審訊。「十二港人」之一李宇軒繼續以「從犯證人」身份出庭作供。就2019年8月的第三次眾籌即「G攬運動」,庭上展示的加拿大《環球郵報》和《紐約時報》國際版廣告,分別促請加國和美國政府禁止出售武器給香港警方,又呼籲美國讀者促請議員動議通過《香港人權與民主法案》。其中一份匯款紀錄顯示西班牙《世界報》的廣告費由 Lais Hotel Property Limited 繳付,根據控方開案陳詞,該公司由 Mark Simon 持有或控制。另外,李確認截至2020年5月,「G攬運動」錄得餘款約69.8萬美元(約546萬港元),而這筆錢之後用在「各地有關 support 香港自由民主嘅活動」,即有關「重光團隊」的活動。 + +#### 李宇軒指曾與陳梓華討論在美國成立公司來收取眾籌款項 + +「十二港人」之一李宇軒第五天以「從犯證人」身份出庭作供。李昨日供稱,在2019年8月第三次眾籌活動期間,他和「攬炒巴」劉祖廸等人成立「重光團隊」(Fight for Freedom, Stand with Hong Kong),並以此團體名義在各地登報。就他們所籌得的180萬美元,李稱在另一名被告陳梓華的協助下,找來了黎智英的私人助手 Mark Simon 借出美國的銀行戶口收取眾籌款項,然後轉帳至「Project Hong Kong Trust」的戶口。李並指當時 Mark Simon 要求在美國成立一個基金來保管眾籌款項,需要找美國公民來擔任受託人,以減少香港銀行凍結款項的風險。 + +控方今展示從李宇軒電腦檢取的電郵紀錄,可見在2019年9月6日至17日期間,李和網名「T」的陳梓華經電郵與眾籌平台職員溝通,提及第一次提取眾籌款項時,銀行「啷住咗」相關帳目,於是轉用另一人的戶口來收款。李表示當時他並未有留意第二名收款人的身份。 + +李供稱,當時他和陳梓華有討論過考慮在美國成立一間公司,以其銀行戶口來收取眾籌款項,因此曾經問眾籌平台的職員是否可行。在2019年9月10日的電郵中,李問職員可否選擇提供一個「責任有限公司」(Limited Liability Company, LLC)的銀行帳戶來收款。在翌日的電郵中,職員表示這方案是可行,要求李提供相關公司名稱和負責人身份,又問「Freedom Hong Kong」會否考慮在美國成立一間「責任有限公司」。 + +#### 陳梓華電郵傳送Mark Simon作為收款人資料 李宇軒:當時未留意收款人資料 + +其後在9月17日,陳梓華向眾籌平台職員傳送電郵,內容含有收款人 Mark Simon 的資料,包括法律上名稱(Legal Name)「Mark H Simon」、地址、電話號碼、銀行戶口資料等。相關電郵同時副本抄送至李的電郵。李表示,他當時並沒有留意收款人的法律地位(legal status),因為只要陳梓華和眾籌平台能夠將款項轉移至收款人的銀行戶口,便能夠處理到問題,後來他才知道當時陳梓華找了 Mark Simon 介入。 + +法官李運騰指,李早前供稱在美國參議員斯科特(Rick Scott)訪港時,有安排他會見斯科特,並介紹 Mark Simon 給他認識,而上述陳梓華的電郵寫有 Mark Simon 的資料,問李當時陳梓華是否已經向他介紹了 Mark Simon。李則表示,視乎會見斯科特的時間是在上述電郵之前,還是之後,因為當時他並未有將會見參議員和提取眾籌款項的事宜「link up 埋一齊」,但他可以確認在2019年9月時已獲介紹。 + +2019年9月17日的電郵顯示,李向眾籌平台職員確認 Mark Simon 是收款人,並籲職員與陳梓華和 Mark 合作處理提取款項。 + +#### 單據顯示Lais Hotel 墊支西班牙報紙廣告費18,500歐元 + +就第三次眾籌的登報廣告,控方指收支表顯示廣告支出合共為633.7萬港元,而李昨日供稱陳梓華等人墊支了約300萬元,其他廣告費則全部由李墊支,由此推論李墊支了約270萬元。李表示:「大概。」 + +控方繼而展示由西班牙報紙《世界報》(El Mundo)發出的發票,顯示廣告費為18,500歐元。李供稱當時相關費用由「T(陳梓華)嗰邊」墊支。 + +控方遂展示匯款收據,顯示上述費用由 Lais Hotel Property Limited 在2019年8月16日支付。李確認,並指這收據是陳梓華交給他的。 + +#### 電郵紀錄顯示周庭曾就登廣告聯絡《日經新聞》 + +就《日經新聞》的廣告,控方展示一封由《日經》傳送給前「香港眾志」成員周庭的電郵,附件有一個發票檔案,顯示廣告費為2,040萬日圓。 + +李供稱,當時「T(陳梓華)嗰邊」早於8月15日從加拿大匯款繳付了《日經新聞》廣告費,大約為147萬港元,但是由於國際交易需時數個工作日,所以《日經新聞》趕不及在廣告刊登的日子(8月19日)之前收到該筆款項,李遂先以現金額外支付約147萬港元的廣告費,作為臨時方案,待《日經新聞》收到加拿大的匯款之後,便會將多付的款項還給李。李指這做法可以確保《日經新聞》在廣告刊登之前收到廣告費。 + +![image02](https://i.imgur.com/dfMItKa.png) +▲ (資料圖片) + +控方指李的銀行紀錄顯示,李於8月16日從銀行戶口提款約147萬港元,李確認之後以現金向《日經新聞》支付廣告費。控方並展示支票入帳紀錄,顯示以支票向李退還合共約147萬港元,李確認。 + +#### 李宇軒指陳梓華等相關人士墊支英國、瑞典、德國和韓國報章的廣告費 + +控方展示由一間英國媒體公司所發出的發票,顯示分別於《旗幟晚報》(Evening Standard)、《泰晤士報》(The Times)、《衛報》(The Guardian)、英國《時代》雜誌(Time)、The Week、City A.M.和《經濟學人》(Economist UK),合共7份報紙和雜誌刊登廣告,費用合共約12萬英鎊。 + +控方又展示匯款紀錄,顯示某人將加拿大貨幣轉換至12萬英鎊,並繳付了上述廣告費。李指這張單據是「T(陳梓華)嗰邊」交給他,「就話英國嗰條數找咗。」 + +此外,李宇軒確認庭上展示的瑞典、德國和韓國報章的廣告費發票、匯款紀錄等,均由「T(陳梓華)嗰邊」交給他,詳情如下: + +- 瑞典《每日工業報》(Dagens industri)和《每日新聞報》(Dagens Nyheter)廣告費:164,450 瑞典克朗 + +- 德國《法蘭克福匯報》(Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung)廣告費:48,848 歐元 + +- 南韓《京鄉新聞》廣告費:22,000,000 韓圜 + +#### 匯款紀錄顯示李宇軒墊支登報廣告費約192.4萬港元 + +控方其後展示一系列發票和匯款紀錄,李宇軒確認墊支有關「G攬」登報活動的廣告費,總數約192.4萬港元,詳情如下: + +- 加拿大《環球郵報》(The Global and Mail)兩份廣告費:130,000 加幣 + +- 法國《世界報》(Le Monde)廣告費:26,000 歐元 + +- 澳洲《澳洲人報》(The Australian)廣告費:40,930.56 澳元 + +- 《紐約時報》國際版廣告費:28,000 美元 + +- 台灣《自由時報》廣告費:336,274 港元 + +- 芬蘭《赫爾辛基日報》(Helsingin Sanomat)廣告費:14116.08 歐元 + +- 丹麥《貝林時報》(Berlingske Tidende)廣告費:54,900 丹麥克朗 + +李又確認,他在支付法國《世界報》的廣告費時,是經一間公司 COGITO LAB COMPANY LIMITED 匯款,而李是該間公司銀行戶口的唯一授權簽署人。 + +#### 加拿大《環球郵報》廣告稱港府干犯人道罪行 促加國政府施壓 包括制裁 + +控方展示刊登在加拿大《環球郵報》的廣告,標題為「STAND WITH HONG KONG UNTIL DAWN」,內文要求加國政府支持香港人,因香港人正在爭取自由和民主,但是面臨與香港政府相關的暴力,包括催淚彈和橡膠子彈,香港已成為了一個「警察國家」(a police state)。 + +![image03](https://i.imgur.com/FjWdc0Z.png) +▲ (資料圖片) + +該廣告並指,在香港政府的施政下,沒有人是安全的,要求讀者採取行動,促使加國政府保護30萬名在港的加拿大公民,例如促請加國政府向北京和特區政府施壓,包括實施制裁和禁止出售武器給香港警方;要求加國政府確認香港特區政府和警方干犯人道罪行;以及在來屆選舉中投票給支持香港爭取民主自由的候選人等。 + +李宇軒確認上述是「G攬運動」期間,刊登在加拿大《環球郵報》的廣告。 + +#### 《紐約時報》國際版廣告促美國政府向香港警方禁售武器 + +控方另展示刊登於《紐約時報》國際版的廣告,標題為「CATCH HONG KONG AS WE FALL」、「THE LAST STAND FOR FREEDOM」。內文求美國讀者聯絡眾議員和參議員,成為《香港人權與民主法案》的共同動議人,並促請美國政府向香港警方禁售武器。 + +控方問李,有關「G攬運動」的登報廣告是否與上述廣告大致相似。李則表示:「我諗唯一嘅共識係同當時嘅香港自由民主有關」,雖然不同國家的廣告文字和設計就由其他人去負責,但是「唔會否認(話)呢份廣告唔係我哋整嘅」。 + +#### 李宇軒指第三次眾籌餘款約69.8萬美元 用在「重光團隊」有關的活動 + +李早前提及第四次的眾籌運動「重光計劃」,以及相關網站有最新的財務紀錄,控方庭上展示「重光團隊」(Fight for Freedom, Stand with Hong Kong)的網站截圖,可見「全球登報制裁港共眾籌計劃」標題。李確認此標題反映眾籌運動的主題,並補充指截圖所顯示的,是「G攬運動」的財務收支報告,總結「G攬運動」眾籌了多少款項、花費了多少款項,用以向公眾交代和解釋為何在2020年5月籌辦第四次眾籌即「重光計劃」。 + +李確認根據收支報告,截至2020年5月,「G攬運動」錄得餘款約69.8萬美元(約546萬港元),但他指這筆錢之後會一直使用,花費在「各地有關 support 香港自由民主嘅活動」。控方問是否有關「重光團隊」的活動,李表示:「可以咁樣理解。」控方表示會在稍後時間就此提問。 + +案件明日續審。 + +--- + +案件編號:HCCC51/2022 diff --git a/_collections/_hkers/2024-03-20-trial-of-jimmy-lai-day-49.md b/_collections/_hkers/2024-03-20-trial-of-jimmy-lai-day-49.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..682cc267 --- /dev/null +++ b/_collections/_hkers/2024-03-20-trial-of-jimmy-lai-day-49.md @@ -0,0 +1,136 @@ +--- +layout: post +title : 【黎智英案・審訊第卌九日】 +author: 獨媒報導 +date : 2024-03-20 12:00:00 +0800 +image : https://i.imgur.com/LciFH41.jpg +#image_caption: "" +description: "" +excerpt_separator: +--- + +- 李宇軒指「重光團隊」組織鬆散 非所有成員支持制裁 共識是爭取香港自由民主 + + + +![image01](https://i.imgur.com/H20ee0I.png) + +【獨媒報導】壹傳媒創辦人黎智英及3間蘋果公司被控串謀勾結外國勢力及串謀刊印煽動刊物等罪,案件今(20日)於高院(移師西九龍法院)踏入第49日審訊。「十二港人」之一李宇軒繼續以「從犯證人」身份出庭作供。李稱2019年9月美國參議員斯科特訪港,由於當時他籌辦過國際登報活動,又出席過聯合國人權理事會會議,「咁喺國際呢條線度做過嘢」,所以獲另一名被告陳梓華邀請會見斯科特。李指會面目的是提高對香港人權自由狀況的關注,「同埋當時 SWHK (重光團隊)有啲想做國際游說,去做一啲嘢去應對香港 deteriorating 嘅自由民主狀況。」李提到當天是他首次見到 Mark Simon,惟未曾與他直接傾談,後來才知道他是黎智英的得力助手。此外,李宇軒形容「重光團隊」是「一個鬆散嘅港人組織」,並非所有成員和活動都支持制裁,「我都唔同意 SWHK 係為咗制裁而去成立嘅一個組織」,並重申當時共識是爭取香港的自由民主。 + +「十二港人」之一李宇軒第六天以「從犯證人」身份出庭作供,由控方代表、副刑事檢控專員周天行作主問。 + +#### 李宇軒指「重光團隊」組織鬆散 不同活動論述或有不一致 + +剛開始時,李宇軒主動提及昨日作供期間,有關「重光團隊」(Fight for Freedom, Stand with Hong Kong, SWHK)的描述,希望就此澄清。李表示:「我會話 SWHK 係一個鬆散嘅港人組織,一個 loose 嘅組織,至少一開始係咁。」他指SWHK並沒有一個會章或會員制度,不過有一個共識是 SWHK 會爭取當時香港的自由民主,而在特定活動中便會有支持該活動的人去參加,「所以可能會見到就住 SWHK 活動嗰陣,嗰個論述會有少少 inconsistent」,他表示會在稍後作供時就特定活動去憶述當時群組內的討論重點。 + +#### 李宇軒指重光團隊非為呼籲制裁而成立 非全部成員支持制裁 + +李續指,從這個角度去理解 SWHK 的活動,「所以我會同意一部份 SWHK members 同一部份 SWHK 嘅活動,係同制裁有關嘅,但係我唔同意全部嘅活動、全部嘅 members 都支持制裁。」李續指:「我都唔同意 SWHK 係為咗制裁而去成立嘅一個組織」,他重申有一個共識是爭取當時香港的自由民主,「而頭先講嘅制裁就係一個 means(手段),同意𠵱個 course of action 嘅 member 就同意咁做。」 + +#### 李宇軒指眾籌收支表中文版會用花巧言辭 例如「制裁港共」 以鼓勵人捐錢 + +李提及昨日庭上展示的「重光團隊」網站截圖,有「全球登報制裁港共眾籌計劃」的收支報表,當時組員討論如何鼓勵其他人捐款,「我記得當時有𠵱個共識,就住中文版嚟講,flowery language(花巧的言辭)會比較容易鼓勵識睇嘅人捐錢」,而對於不懂中文或閱讀英文的人,「當時就覺得係比較用中性啲嘅字眼,就會比較容易 encourage 到人捐錢」,因此網站上公佈的收支報表,中英版本之間會有不一致的情況。 + +法官杜麗冰問到,李所說的花巧言辭是哪些。李指「制裁港共」,與英文版的「Advocacy for Hong Kong」有出入。被問到「港共」的意思,李指這字眼是「形容香港政府與中共相關」,但並非意指香港政府就等如中共。 + +代表黎智英的資深大律師彭耀鴻則提議,「港共」的英文翻譯可以是「Hong Kong Communists」。李同意這譯法接近「港共」的原本意思。 + +被問到「港共」一詞想帶出什麼訊息,李指即是香港政權與共產政權有關,暗示共產黨。他又指,雖然當時字眼沒有提及「中共」,但當時覺得「港共」相比起「香港」是一個帶較強烈感情(more charged)的描述,可用以呼籲人們捐錢。 + +#### 李宇軒確認他曾管理「重光團隊」網站 + +控方問及「重光團隊」網站是何時設立。李表示不記得,因為若果沒記錯的話,網站應該是由一名叫 Kirin Bumper 的人設立,而他在後來才被加入管理網站。不過他當時並沒有在網站編輯或發布過任何內容,直至後來 Kirin Bumper 打算將網站完全交給李和其他組員管理,李相信可翻查網頁編輯紀錄來得知相關日子。 + +至於「重光團隊」的事務由誰管理,李指「由組員一齊傾」,負責執行活動的人則是大家透過共識來決定。 + +控方展示由李宇軒製作的「G攬運動」收支報表和李的花旗銀行戶口紀錄,顯示在2020年2月28日,有一筆約42萬元美金(約327萬港元)的款項歸還給李,而轉帳人是「Project Hong Kong Trust」的美國 Amalgamated Bank 帳戶。李確認他當時要求 Project Hong Kong Trust 歸還他曾墊支的款項。 + +#### 李宇軒指 Mark Simon 歸還款項「條數唔夾」 惟陳梓華未安排歸還差額 + +控方又指,「G攬運動」收支報表可見三筆交易,金額分別為40萬、約33萬和約46.9萬美元,分別在2019年11月4日、2020年1月7日和2月3日,由「Funder 2」轉帳至「Project Hong Kong Trust」戶口。 + +李解釋,這三筆款項是 Mark Simon 將眾籌款項轉帳給「Project Hong Kong Trust」,因為 Mark Simon 較早前借出銀行戶口替「G攬運動」接收和「hold 住」眾籌款項,直至後來「Project Hong Kong Trust」準備好銀行戶口,Mark Simon 便歸還眾籌款項。而 Mark Simon 屬於「T(陳梓華)嗰邊」,換言之「Funder 2」即是代表「T(陳梓華)嗰邊」。 + +控方指,上述三筆 Mark Simon 歸還的款項總和是120萬美元,惟網站公佈的「G攬運動」收支報表顯示,代號「Funder 2」的 Mark Simon 接收了約177.2萬元美金,兩筆數有差距。 + +李解釋,因為「T(陳梓華)嗰邊」曾經墊支登報費用,所以這部份款項不需要歸還,若 Mark Simon 把眾籌款項扣除墊支了的登報費,便當作是直接發還了開支。不過李指,若將 Mark Simon的 三筆還款加上墊支費用,總數不是相等於177.2萬元美金,他曾就此問題與陳梓華商討,「就話條數唔夾,其實應該有多啲嘅錢畀返 Project Hong Kong Trust。」他並製作了收支報表,要求陳安排歸還差額。 + +李指相關款項是大約一萬或者幾萬元美金,不會多於10萬元美金,當時陳僅回覆「佢會搞」,但以李所知,陳並沒有安排歸還欠款。李指由於 Project Hong Kong Trust 帳戶非由他控制,「所以到最尾我唔清楚有冇多咗錢入去個戶口⋯⋯ in any event,至少T(陳梓華)冇同我講。」 + +#### 李宇軒指群組成員就是否籌辦第四次登報意見不一 最終決定不登報 部份人因而離開群組 + +李供稱,第三次眾籌及登報的「G攬運動」中,錄得大約一半餘款,當時在其中一個「G攬」群組中,組員關注若果任由剩下的款項原封不動,便可能引來懷疑或指控「G攬嗰度會唔會落格」,大家曾經作出討論,有人認為籌辦多一次登報便可花費剩下的款項,也有人質疑登報是否爭取香港自由民主的最好方法。李指組員最終決定不籌辦多一次登報,但同時沒有其他活動方案,「就真係由得啲錢擺喺度,睇吓嚟緊有咩想做、有咩值得去做。」 + +李指,在上述討論尾聲「咁就有個 split」,有一部份同意不登報的組員,便繼續留在群組中;「而覺得淨係想登報嘅嗰啲人,就離開咗個『G攬』team」,因為該些人想辦多一次登報,「而你哋決定唔繼續做,所以佢哋就走。」 + +李指,該些想登報的人離開群組之後,在大約2019年10月1日前後籌辦了一個「賀你老母」的眾籌登報計劃,不過他並沒有參與其中。 + +#### 李宇軒指2019年底「G攬」和「重光團隊」整合 + +李表示,在群組成員討論期間,他和網名「T」的陳梓華均不同意進行第四次登報。二人曾經一度離開群組,但在實務層面考慮,如果李和陳都離開群組的話,未來的登報計劃便會面臨財政壓力,因為未必有另一個人能夠墊支廣告費用,「唔知係咪因為咁樣,定係後來大家共識係唔再登報」,結果群組成員決定不籌辦登報,之後李便重新被加入群組。 + +李憶述,他重新加入群組之後,曾經有一段時間,群組成員之中有部分人認同「G攬」團隊的身份,同時也有部份人認同「重光團隊」的身份,不過當時沒有迫切性去處理這個形式問題。李指,以他所理解,反而「攬炒巴」劉祖廸等人在英國當地舉辦公開活動、印製橫額或會見國會議員時,他們會逐漸使用「重光團隊」的口號和標誌。不過直到大約2019年底,「G攬」和「重光團隊」有進行整合,並將一些合併了的群組重新命名為「重光團隊」,但實際上的日常運作與之前並沒有分別。 + +#### 李宇軒稱2019年8.31曾與英議員Bob Seely晚飯 談論香港狀況 + +控方展示「重光團隊」網站公佈的工作匯報,其中一項提到「成功邀請 Bob Seely MP 於8月31日到港觀察示威」。李憶述,在2019年8月31日之前,「攬炒巴」透過 Telegram 告知他英國國會議員 Bob Seely 想來港觀察示威,希望香港方面會有人接應,於是李宇軒、前學民思潮成員李宗澤(Wilson Li)和其他人一同幫忙。 + +李宇軒記得李宗澤負責大部份流程相關的工作,而他曾經與 Bob Seely、李宗澤和其他人,在銅鑼灣一間酒店食晚飯,期間向 Bob Seely 談論有關香港發生的事。李續指,「唔知係 Wilson 定係另一啲人,咁就帶 Bob Seely 落咗場去睇示威,因為嗰晚附近都有出咗 tear gas。」而李宇軒則沒有落場。 + +控方問,帶 Bob Seely 觀察示威現場的目的是什麼。李指:「Bob Seely 佢想親身用佢對眼去睇香港發生咩事,咁當時香港一啲街頭示威,以當時嘅香港嚟講,係比較重要嘅事,所以 Bob Seely 就去咗睇示威喇。」控方問是否關於香港當時的社會動亂(social unrest)。李則表示:「我諗我會總結做當時香港嘅自由同民主」,又指:「啲人對於當時人權自由狀況有好多不滿,所以有好多 street demonstration。」 + +有關是次接見 Bob Seely 想達到什麼目標,李指為了幫助「攬炒巴嗰邊」接見 Bob Seely,然後 Bob Seely 回到英國後,「就可以繼續 whatever 佢同攬炒巴搞緊嘅嘢」,而相關工作整體而言是有關提高對香港民主自由的關注,惟李對二人之間的具體工作並不清楚。 + +李指,有關是次會見 Bob Seely 的支出,他向第二次眾籌的「中英聯合聲明登報」計劃報銷費用,因為是次會見與英國有關。他並指,款額「我諗應該唔夠幾萬蚊港紙」。 + +法官杜麗冰留意到工作匯報所使用的字眼是「成功邀請 Bob Seely MP」,意味 Bob Seely 是受邀,而非主動提出來港。惟李宇軒稱他不知道事前 Bob Seely 與「攬炒巴」是如何溝通,因此他不會揣測「成功邀請」一詞的意思,他亦不知道 Bob Seely 來港的主意是由誰人主動提出。 + +就李宗澤的身份,李宇軒形容「佢好似對於 book 機票、酒店好熟悉」,但他除了是次接見 Bob Seely 和後來的區議會監選團之外,「平時喺 SWHK 同『G攬』嗰度,係完全見唔到佢嘅」,因此他理解李宗澤並不是任何一個團隊的成員。 + +#### 李宇軒稱成立「香港故事」公司 為處理籌款和參與社運名義問題 + +控方提到,公司註冊處紀錄顯示李宇軒在2019年9月9日註冊「香港故事有限公司」,而李是首任董事兼創辦成員。李稱除他自己之外,公司便沒有牽涉其他人。 + +就成立公司的原因,李解釋上次眾籌遇到提取款項的問題,他曾經與陳梓華討論是否需要成立一間有限責任公司(Limited Liability Company)。李亦留意到提款時牽涉了一些個人戶口,例如他自己的戶口,或非社運團體的的戶口,於是考慮開設一個社運團體的銀行戶口。李又表示,「既然我已經用咗真身份去做眾籌眾籌活動,咁就會唔會⋯⋯接住落嚟我會唔會用真身份去做 activist activities 呢?」他考慮:「如果係嘅話,會係 under 咩 activist organisation 呢?」,其中一個選項便是「我直情起一個 activist organisation 出嚟」。 + +李表示,他與陳梓華商討之後,有共識去研究上述議題,最終開設了「香港故事」這間公司。 + +不過李補充,後來這間公司實際上並未能處理到上述議題,因為隨著「Project Hong Kong Trust」的銀行戶口成立,可以用來處理眾籌款項,所以沒有需要用到「香港故事」的戶口。至於「香港故事」作為一個社運身份,李則認為「SWHK 作為一個 pseudo organisation,佢係更加有效」,所以後來派卡片也是直接使用「重光團隊」的卡片。例如他在2019年尾會見美國參議員 Marsha Blackburn、斯科特(Rick Scott)、Todd Young 和共和黨議員克魯茲(Ted Cruz)的時候,便是使用「重光團隊」的卡片,而沒有使用「香港故事」的卡片。 + +#### 李宇軒稱曾以「香港故事」身份會見聯合國人權事務高級專員 + +控方問「香港故事」曾經進行什麼活動。李指他在2019年8月的時候,曾赴聯合國會見 Sébastien Gillioz,即聯合國人權事務高級專員辦事處(OHCHR)中負責亞太地區的職員,當時使用了「香港故事」的身份。 + +李憶述相關背景,有一名叫「Sheep」的人士是聯合國的職員,在2019年8月中旬,「Sheep」告知他聯合國人權事務高級專員辦事處發表一份關注香港自由民主狀況的聲明,「佢話呢個好唔尋常,因為有史以來淨係出過兩個同香港有關嘅聲明」,所以是次聲明意味「OHCHR 都重視嗰陣時香港嘅狀況」,即有關民主、自由和示威。 + +李續轉述「Sheep」告訴他,聯合國人權理事會(United Nations Human Rights Council)將於2019年9月在日內瓦舉行會議,如果想準備參與會議,便最好事前去聯絡 Sébastien Gillioz,因為他在 OHCHR 裡是負責中國事務的人之一。因此李便在8月赴日內瓦會見 Sébastien Gillioz,以了解當時 OHCHR 如何看香港發生的情況,同行人士還有天文物理學家 Shirley Ho 和一名叫 Adder 的人。 + +李提到會見 Sébastien Gillioz 時,他們得悉OHCHR的職員並不滿意當時中國代表團所聲稱「development based 嘅 human right」。惟當李想進一步解釋時,法官杜麗冰打斷指,現在只需要了解相關事件背景,而不是審判在聯合國的游說工作,因此不需要詳述。 + +李總結指,經過8月的會面後,他便預備資料去9月的聯合國人權理事會會議,又開設 Telegram 群組「地球香港分部」,成員包括他、「Sheep」和「我要做飯」,以討論9月的旅程。李並指曾經與陳梓華談論過此事,「佢亦都支持我去聯合國。」 + +#### 因會見美議員 李宇軒與Mark Simon被加入同一群組 + +控方另展示 WhatsApp 群組「Coffee on Sunday」,紀錄顯示陳梓華於2019年9月29日創立群組,當時群組成員有陳、李和 Mark Simon。李解釋,陳梓華當時問他會否會見美國參議員斯科特(Rick Scott),「我話OK」,然後陳便把他加進群組。 + +群組顯示 Mark Simon 傳送訊息,指美國參議員斯科特正身處香港,問李和陳是否有空會見。Mark Simon 其後表示會加入斯科特的助手 Scott Sciretta 及美國領事職員 Alan Brinker。 + +李表示,在加入群組之前,他對於 Mark Simon 沒有任何認知,也不知 Mark Simon 將會一同會見斯科特。李表示,看過群組討論之後,「其後我知道佢(Mark Simon)係T(陳梓華)同黎智英嗰邊嘅」,也是收取 GoFundMe 款項及之後轉移去 Project Hong Kong Trust 戶口的人士。 + +控方問李何以知道 Mark Simon 與黎智英有關,李表示加入群組時並不知道,「後來唔記得喺邊度定報紙,話 Mark Simon 就係黎智英嘅 right hand man(得力助手)。」 + +#### 李宇軒稱會見美議員時談及香港示威 「希望美國政府可以做啲嘢」 + +控方問為何李會被邀請會見斯科特。李表示,因為當時他籌辦過國際登報活動,又出席過聯合國人權理事會會議,「咁喺國際呢條線度做過嘢,所以就想我去見 Rick Scott 喇。」他指會面目的是提高對香港人權自由狀況的關注,「同埋當時 SWHK 有啲想做國際游說,去做一啲嘢去應對香港 deteriorating 嘅自由民主狀況。」 + +不過李提到,當時眾人未有任何共識提出實質方案,所以當時共識是先提高關注,之後才「去做一啲嘢」,「就係希望美國去做一啲嘢」來應對香港的狀況。李續指,因此他會見議員時,僅使用一些很籠統的字眼,例如「希望美國政府採取行動」之類。 + +就會見議員的討論內容,李指另一位同行的「Cath」描述她在示威前線見到的場景,另外「我亦都簡單講咗香港人眾籌運動,同埋希望美國政府可以做啲嘢,同埋佢(Rick Scott)作為一個參議員,佢可以做啲嘢咁」。 + +李稱當天的會面是他首次見到同場的 Mark Simon,惟他並未與 Mark Simon 有任何直接交談,「我淨係記得佢係肥肥地。」 + +案件明日續審。 + +--- + +案件編號:HCCC51/2022 diff --git a/_collections/_hkers/2024-03-21-trial-of-jimmy-lai-day-50.md b/_collections/_hkers/2024-03-21-trial-of-jimmy-lai-day-50.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..a5d39285 --- /dev/null +++ b/_collections/_hkers/2024-03-21-trial-of-jimmy-lai-day-50.md @@ -0,0 +1,116 @@ +--- +layout: post +title : 【黎智英案・審訊第 50 日】 +author: 獨媒報導 +date : 2024-03-21 12:00:00 +0800 +image : https://i.imgur.com/LciFH41.jpg +#image_caption: "" +description: "" +excerpt_separator: +--- + +- 李宇軒:由登報轉型做國際游說 傳送建議制裁名單予朱牧民 冀轉交美議員 + + + +![image01](https://i.imgur.com/g0W5e3s.png) + +【獨媒報導】壹傳媒創辦人黎智英及3間蘋果公司被控串謀勾結外國勢力及串謀刊印煽動刊物等罪,案件今(21日)於高院(移師西九龍法院)踏入第50日審訊。「十二港人」之一李宇軒繼續以「從犯證人」身份出庭作供。李稱他籌辦全球登報活動,以及會見聯合國人權事務高級專員辦事處職員之後,與另一名被告陳梓華討論之下,便決定「慢慢將我轉型做 international lobbying」。於是李參與會見美議員斯科特、安排外國人來港觀察區議會選舉,以及參與民主黨創黨主席李柱銘、前政務司司長陳方安生、英國議員 Lord Alton 和裴倫德的會議。2019年底,李赴美國國會山莊會見數名共和黨議員,為了展示香港示威及相關事件裡面的「受害者」個案,讓美議員有基礎去推動支持香港的法案,包括制裁侵犯香港人權民主的人士。同場香港代表包括朱牧民,事後李向朱傳送一份建議制裁對象名單,希望朱代為轉交給美議員。 + +「十二港人」之一李宇軒第七天以「從犯證人」身份出庭作供。由控方代表、副刑事檢控專員周天行作主問。 + +#### 李宇軒指獲邀見美議員斯科特 因陳梓華認為其游說工作「特別有效」 + +李昨日證供提到2019年9月29日獲另一名被告陳梓華(網名「T」)邀請會見美國參議員斯科特(Rick Scott),因為李曾經籌辦全球登報活動,又曾經赴聯合國會見人權事務高級專員辦事處(OHCHR)職員 Sébastien Gillioz,「咁喺國際呢條線度做過嘢。」 + +李今日加以補充,他們會見 Sébastien Gillioz 之後,「除咗 secure 到一個官方嘅 reply,即係 special procedure,我另外搵到 Sébastien Gillioz,佢話有職員幫我哋 prioritise (優先處理香港的事務和材料)」,陳梓華當時對此結果印象深刻,認為李的游說工作「特別有效」,所以邀請李會見斯科特。李形容:「當時慢慢有個 transition 由登報去到 lobbying。」 + +李又提到,除了聯合國之行外,他在會見斯科特之前還去了法國,「係一個 lobbying 嘅 trip 嚟嘅。」該旅程完結後,李正在考慮「應唔應該繼續做法國嘅 lobbying」,以及是否應該與當地港人組織「Le Comité pour la Liberté à Hong-Kong」合作,或者經該組織進行游說工作,惟當時他並不懂法文。 + +#### 李宇軒稱與陳梓華討論後決定轉型做國際游說 + +就會見 Rick Scott 一事,陳梓華設立了一個 WhatsApp 群組「Coffee on Sunday」,成員有陳、李和 Mark Simon。控方展示該群組訊息,陳在訊息中介紹李為「international propaganda people」。李指因為他曾經籌辦全球登報活動,他和陳經過討論,便決定「慢慢將我轉型做 international lobbying」。 + +Mark Simon 在群組中提議,李應該向斯科特談及較早前的眾籌,以留下深刻印象。(“Also, what would really impress him is if you talk about the go fund me, shows support”)李表示,他不知道為何 Mark Simon 會認為提及眾籌會打動到斯科特,可能 Mark 掌握到斯科特的背景資料,故此提醒李要談論哪些話題。 + +#### 陳梓華訊息提醒不要提及「資助人」 李宇軒指可能指墊支人 + +控方另指,在陳梓華成立 WhatsApp 群組之前,李和陳之間曾經有 WhatsApp 對話,並展示相關紀錄截圖。陳轉述 Mark Simon 提醒李不要提及「Backer(資助人)」和「中英聯合聲明登報」團隊。(“Brother, Mark said do not mention about backer and JD team”) + +就「Backer」的身份,李表示不肯定,「不過我理解係 T(陳梓華)嗰邊,作為 crowdfunding 嘅 backer,即係有墊過支。」 + +李提到當時斯科特有意參選總統,陳梓華和 Mark Simon 希望他避免談及墊支事宜,因為避免可能觸犯美國總統選舉的規矩。李表示他在會面期間有遵從陳在訊息中的指示。 + +控方問李會見斯科特之後,有否與陳梓華談論該會面。李回答有,指自己「大概講咗會面講嘅嘢」,又引述陳回應他「『Good, Keep up, good work』呀咁」。至於 Mark Simon,李則稱事後沒有與他討論。 + +#### 李宇軒指陳梓華支持他安排區選監察團 以擴展人脈作國際游說 + +控方繼而就2019年區議會選舉監察團提問,並展示「Election Observation Mission Report(下稱「EOM」)」,當中提到監選團由「重光團隊」和李成立的「香港故事」籌辦。法官杜麗冰留意到報告上除了有「重光團隊」標誌之外,還有「IAD」標誌。控方提供相關資料,指這是「香港大專學界國際事務代表團」的標誌。 + +李稱監選團是邀請不同觀察員來港觀察區議會選舉,而他是香港那邊的其中一個搞手。控方問誰人指示李參與。李則澄清:「因為唔係一個指示嚟,係一個 story 嚟」,當時他與陳梓華、轉型中的「重光團隊」以及「攬炒巴」劉祖廸等人進行討論,而「攬炒巴」與顧問公司「Whitehouse Consultancy」曾討論英國上議院議員 Lord David Alton 有意來港觀察選舉,「但唔想好似 Lord Alton 主動過嚟咁」,反而想由一個社運團體邀請他來港,於是李直接給他們使用「香港故事」的名義。 + +李續指,「攬炒巴」和「Whitehouse Consultancy」提議除了邀請 Lord Alton 之外,還邀請更加多人,而上次有份接待 Bob Seely 的李宗澤(Wilson Li)表示願意協助處理流程,於是「攬炒巴」和「Whitehouse Consultancy」便著手邀請更多人來港監選。 + +李宇軒稱有跟陳梓華討論安排「監選團」,「佢都支持我去整呢個 EOM,同埋希望喺 EOM 𠵱個場合度擴展我嘅人脈」,這關乎他轉型做國際游說,以爭取香港自由民主。 + +#### 李宇軒要求裴倫德刪除監選團相關訊息 免被港府禁入境 + +控方展示2019年11月22日,即區選之前兩日,李宇軒與「對華政策跨國議會聯盟」創辦人兼執行總監裴倫德(Luke de Pulford)之間的 WhatsApp 對話,當中提及要刪除訊息紀錄。 + +李解釋,以當時的政治環境而言,根據籌辦監選團的人士的判斷,當時香港政府並不歡迎外國人來港監選,叫裴倫德刪除訊息是因為擔心若果他被發現有監選團相關的訊息,會被港府標籤為「不受歡迎人士」,被禁止來港。李續指,若然來港監選的人最終被視為「不受歡迎人士」及不能入境,後備方案是他們把情況告知相應國家的領事館和傳媒。因此在裴倫德過關期間,李表示需要與裴倫德保持訊息聯繫,以確保他順利過關。 + +李稱監選團分成港九新界不同小隊,而他屬於其中一個新界小隊,同隊成員包括 Lord Alton。李憶述當時陳梓華叫他把握機會建立人脈網絡。 + +#### 李宇軒銀行紀錄顯示Mark Simon曾借50萬元 + +李指是次邀請外國人來港監選的開支約有幾十萬元,由「G攬運動」眾籌款項支付,也有的外國代表是自費來港,包括瑞典和丹麥的代表。 + +控方指,李的銀行戶口紀錄顯示, Mark Simon 在2019年11月21日向李轉帳一筆50萬港元款項。李解釋,當時有見即將籌備監選團,惟其個人戶口只剩下約26萬元,「所以我就要去搵T(陳梓華),我可能唔夠錢去搞 EOM,咁就睇吓佢可唔可以諗吓辦法」,例如找人墊支,於是 Mark Simon 便轉帳了50萬元給他,「我諗就因為嗱嗱臨,佢直情就用 personal account 就畀我喇。」 + +李指,他並不需要還款給 Mark Simon,因為 Mark Simon 幫忙接收「G攬」眾籌款項,他之後歸還款項給「Project Hong Kong Trust」時,已經直接扣除了上述50萬元。 + +控方指根據收支帳目表,李合共墊支了約55.2萬港元。昨日提到「Project Hong Kong Trust」在2020年2月28日向李轉帳約42萬元美金(約328萬港元),以歸還李所有活動墊支過的開支。李解釋42萬元美金的計算方法,他先計算所有活動墊支款項的總和,然後扣除已經歸還了給他的款項,例如上述 Mark Simon 的50萬元,最終得出42萬美元這數目。 + +#### 李宇軒指李柱銘和陳方安生會見斯科特和裴倫德 談論香港民主情況 + +李宇軒指,在監選團結束之後,Lord Alton、裴倫德、民主黨創黨主席李柱銘和前政務司司長陳方安生在西九龍的 W Hotel 開會,而李宇軒得知有這個會議,於是陳梓華叫李參與這個會議。在會議中,李曾經與 Lord Alton 和裴倫德交談。 + +李憶述,李柱銘和陳方安生在會議中「講香港民主情況」,而 Lord Alton 則表示會盡力以英國議員的身份引起關注,李理解裴倫德是作為 Lord Alton 的助理。控方追問他們談論的是引起什麼「關注」,李指是「對香港嘅民主情況」的關注;控方再問有什麼情況值得關注,李僅說:「Deteriorate 緊。」 + +#### 2019年底赴美會見議員 李宇軒:為推動支持香港法案、使侵犯人權者負責任 + +李宇軒確認曾在2019年底到美國國會山莊會見參議員斯科特(Rick Scott)、Todd Young 、克魯茲(Ted Cruz)和 Marsha Blackburn。是次會見議員是由時任香港民主委員會(Hong Kong Democracy Council)成員、朱耀明兒子朱牧民(Samuel Chu)安排,隨團人士包括天文物理學家 Shirley Ho 和李宗澤(Wilson Li),不過二人並沒有出席會面。李稱事前有告知陳梓華相關行程,而陳回應「好」、「加油」。 + +控方問及是次會面目的,李指會面是為了向美國的議員展示香港示威及相關事件裡面的「受害者」個案,「等佢哋有 grounds (基礎)去 push(推動)幾個同香港有關嘅 Acts(法案)。」而該些法案即「廣義上當時 support 香港嘅法案」,例如《香港人權與民主法案》。 + +控方追問,通過這些法案是為了什麼目的。李一度問:「你想我講 sanctions(制裁)?」他其後解釋,首項目的是作為一個政治氣勢(political momentum),在美國推動一些支持香港的法案;另一個目的是使一些「侵犯人權者(Perpetrators of Human Rights)」負上責任,例如制裁。 + +#### 李宇軒指會面由朱牧民安排 會上不需談細節 由雙方職員事後跟進實務 + +李表示,如果沒有記錯的話,他們會見的美國議員均是共和黨黨員,而且全部都是關心香港議題的議員。 + +李憶述朱牧民在事前簡單解釋過,在會議期間並不需要談及太多細節,因為在會面之後,雙方的職員(staffer)會再商討細節和跟進實務工作,所以會議上只需主要談論幾個受害人的故事,「同埋即係有禮貌地多謝佢哋關心香港嘅事務。」而香港這邊的職員(staffer)就是朱牧民。 + +當控方追問他們想美國議員採取什麼行動,以及針對對象時,李表示:「唔好意思,我頭先已經答咗」,重申「我哋喺 meeting 唔可以特定要求佢哋(美議員)concrete 做乜嘢,啫係呢個係等 staffer 大家之後去夾嘅。」不過李表示,從廣義上來說,他們希望美議員通過法案。 + +就是次旅程的開支,李稱由他先作墊支,之後向「Project Hong Kong Trust」報銷。控方又展示「重光團隊」的 Facebook 專頁在2019年12月11日的帖文,附有一張 Todd Young 與李宇軒、朱牧民、吳傲雪(Sonia Ng)和 Katherine Cheng 的合照。 + +#### 李宇軒向朱牧民傳送建議制裁對象名單 冀轉交美議員 + +控方展示李宇軒與朱牧民之間的 Telegram 訊息,李在訪美旅程之後,向朱轉發了一份文件檔案,題為「Profiles of Perpetrators of Human Rights and Democracy Abuse in Hong Kong(打壓香港人權和民主人士之檔案)」,封面並標註「Confidential(機密)」。文件內容列出四類建議制裁對象,包括發出指令侵犯人權的政府人士(“State actors who condone and give orders for human right violations”)、促使侵犯人權的政府人士和政治人物(“State actors, including politicians, who instigate human rights violations”)、協助和教唆侵犯人權的公私營機構人士(“State and Private Actors who Aid and Abet Human Rights Violations”)和促使侵犯人權的機構(“Organisations who facilitate human rights violations”)。庭上所見時任特首林鄭月娥位居榜首,其他官員和港鐵行政總裁等人亦榜上有名。 + +李相信文件是由「重光團隊」其他人製作,但是他稱:「我冇去參與整呢個文件,但我喺 SWHK 入面,我有參與嗰啲有關 sanctions 嘅討論。」被問到傳送這份文件給朱牧民的原因,李解釋,當「重光團隊」成員知道他見完美國議員之後,希望他能向美議員提議制裁對象,因此他需經由香港一方的職員,即朱牧民去向議員提供材料,所以李向朱提供相關文件,讓朱判斷何時及如何把這些材料交給美國議員。 + +被問到有否閱讀過上述文件,李表示「應該𥄫咗一眼」、「跟住碌一碌,哦原來好多人」,但是並沒有詳細閱讀。至於醞釀製作這份文件的時間,李則稱有一段長時間,因為「重光團隊」的大群組不時有人提起制裁,組員討論一段時間之後,可能會轉談其他話題,「啫係溝埋晒其他 discussion」,所以未能肯定相關討論實際歷時多久。 + +#### 李宇軒:希望建議制裁名單保密 籲勿傳至群組 + +訊息紀錄顯示,李傳送完文件給朱之後,表示他不相信群組內所有人會保密(“I don’t trust everybody in the group to keep this confidential”),朱回覆他也不會(I wouldn’t either)。李庭上解釋,他不想文件被傳送至大群組供人傳閱,因為文件性質是「機密」,所以要求朱不要傳送文件至群組。 + +李又表示,以他理解這份文件是為美國而設,如果有需要向美國以外的國家提供制裁名單的話,便需要找擁有這份文件的人製作另一份。 + +案件明日續審。 + +--- + +案件編號:HCCC51/2022 diff --git a/_collections/_hkers/2024-03-22-trial-of-jimmy-lai-day-51.md b/_collections/_hkers/2024-03-22-trial-of-jimmy-lai-day-51.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..e57396df --- /dev/null +++ b/_collections/_hkers/2024-03-22-trial-of-jimmy-lai-day-51.md @@ -0,0 +1,90 @@ +--- +layout: post +title : 【黎智英案・審訊第 51 日】 +author: 獨媒報導 +date : 2024-03-22 12:00:00 +0800 +image : https://i.imgur.com/LciFH41.jpg +#image_caption: "" +description: "" +excerpt_separator: +--- + +- 李宇軒稱曾帶日本議員到中大二號橋視察、傳送法案初稿及展示催淚彈彈頭 + + + +![image01](https://i.imgur.com/21UcV6Y.png) + +【獨媒報導】壹傳媒創辦人黎智英及3間蘋果公司被控串謀勾結外國勢力及串謀刊印煽動刊物等罪,案件今(22日)於高院(移師西九龍法院)踏入第51日審訊。「十二港人」之一李宇軒繼續以「從犯證人」身份出庭作供。李供稱,他與另一名被告陳梓華於2020年初曾到陳方安生的辦公室開會,二人被問及如何達至終局(Endgame),惟二人均說不出相關路線圖。控方亦未有要求李澄清「終局」的意思。此外,李稱在2019年區議會外國監選團來港期間,曾帶日本議員高井崇志到中大二號橋視察衝突後情況,事後二人有透過電郵聯絡,李亦將一份由義工撰寫的法案初稿轉發給高井崇志,冀議員能在日本議會上提出有關香港人權的法案。他亦在2019年12月曾赴日本與兩名日本共產黨議員見面,包括井上哲志和山添拓,「同埋帶咗啲催淚彈彈頭畀佢哋睇。」 + +「十二港人」之一李宇軒第八天以「從犯證人」身份出庭作供。由控方代表、副刑事檢控專員周天行作主問。 + +#### 李宇軒補充指印尼爆眼記者Veby和聲稱被性侵Sonia 一同會見美議員 + +李宇軒昨日供稱於2019年底,在時任香港民主委員會(Hong Kong Democracy Council)成員、朱耀明兒子朱牧民(Samuel Chu)的安排下,赴美國國會山莊會見參議員斯科特(Rick Scott)、Todd Young 、克魯茲(Ted Cruz)和 Marsha Blackburn。 + +李昨供稱一同會見美議員的人有 Sonia 、Diana 和 Veby,控方追問二人是誰。李指 Sonia 曾經聲稱被性侵,因為會見美議員是為了展示香港示威入面,「原來就有呢啲有血有肉嘅人呢,就係 victims 嚟,佢(Sonia)就係講佢畀人性侵嘅故事。」 + +![image02](https://i.imgur.com/qCY24zi.png) +▲ 左起:吳傲雪(Sonia Ng)、Katherine Cheng、Todd Young 、李宇軒、朱牧民(資料圖片) + +李指 Diana 是一名空姐,相信她的角色是講述她被航空公司施壓,「叫人唔好參加香港嘅民主運動」。至於 Veby,李指她是「印尼爆眼記者」。 + +昨日庭上提到李傳送一份建議制裁名單給朱牧民,控方今展示「重光團隊」的 Facebook 專頁截圖,顯示制裁名單的第三版本上載於專頁。控方指共有141名人士,包括前特首林鄭、前警務處處長曾偉雄、警司陶輝和行政會議成員湯家驊,以及整個警隊被列於名單上。惟李表示他並非專頁的管理人之一。 + +#### 李宇軒指 SWHK 沒有中文名、非所有人同意稱呼「攬炒團隊」 + +昨日庭上展示李宇軒與朱牧民之間的 Telegram 對話,訊息當中一度提及「攬炒團隊」,李昨稱「攬炒團隊」並非指「重光團隊」(Fight for Freedom, Stand with Hong Kong,簡稱 SWHK)。控方今日要求李澄清 SWHK 的中文名稱。李則指並非所有 SWHK 的成員都同意以「攬炒團隊」作為中文名稱。法官杜麗冰問李的意思是否指 SWHK 沒有中文名,李確認。 + +李亦提到「G攬」登報結束之後,組員逐漸不再使用「G攬」這稱呼,因為其後的活動不再與登報相關,「如果你喺某一個活動好認同嘅話,就用 SWHK 呢個label」,惟直至李被捕一刻,組員仍然未能統一使用 SWHK 這名義。 + +控方問李能否辨認出 SWHK 有哪些成員,李表示:「In a loose sense,可以」,例如有的人多次參與籌辦 SWHK 的活動,而該些人又認同 SWHK 這個參與身份。 + +#### 李宇軒稱曾到英領事住所參與會議 出席者包括李柱銘、陳方安生、郭榮鏗和莫乃光 + +李宇軒昨稱,在2019年11月區選之後,曾經參與民主黨創黨主席李柱銘、前政務司司長陳方安生、英國議員 Lord Alton 和裴倫德在 W Hotel 的會議。 + +李供稱,他不記得在2019年底還是2020年初,曾獲時任英國駐港領事賀恩德(Andy Heyn)邀請到其住所參與會議,同場出席者還有民主黨創黨主席李柱銘、前政務司司長陳方安生、時任立法會議員郭榮鏗和莫乃光。李指在該次會議中,李柱銘和陳方安生屬於「老一啲嘅民主派」,郭榮鏗和莫乃光「就喺中間」,而「我就係再後生嘅 generation」,因此賀恩德想聆聽年輕一代的意見。李並指會議曾討論「大家對香港民主嗰個睇法」,亦曾提及《中英聯合聲明》。 + +李稱事前有告訴陳梓華(網名T)他將會出席這會議,而陳有作出回應,大概意思是:「去見吓,network 吓」、「加油」。 + +#### 李宇軒指陳方安生會上問及endgame 惟他與陳梓華均說不出路線圖 + +直至2020年年頭,李稱他與陳梓華一同到陳方安生的辦公室見面,是他第三次與陳方安生見面。控方問,陳為何會邀請李一同會見陳方安生,李則稱以他所知,陳方安生與陳梓華本來相識,「唔知 T(陳梓華)同陳方安生講咗啲咩,咁就 invite 咗我。」 + +![image03](https://i.imgur.com/kEx4BAF.png) +▲ 陳方安生(資料圖片) + +李指討論內容「大概意思係我同T(陳梓華)當係𠵱個 generation 嘅 activists,即係話陳方安生問 T 同我,我哋最尾想點做」,李表示他和陳均「答唔出一啲 concrete 嘅 roadmap(路線圖)」。因為當時香港發生很多示威、行動和集會,「啫係(陳方安生問)如果我哋有 endgame 嘅話,我哋會點樣去達到,同埋想點樣做」,惟李表示:「但我同 T 都冇 endgame」,又稱:「我哋冇嚟緊做呢樣、做嗰樣嘅 roadmap(路線圖)。」李形容該次會議「冇結果」。 + +#### 李宇軒:曾與陳梓華和攬炒巴討論 三人共識李繼續做國際游說工作 + +李宇軒早前作供提及於2019年底或2020年初的時候,在軟件 Jitsi 上與「攬炒巴」進行視像會議,因而知道對方真實身份是劉祖廸。李今詳述會議內容,指陳梓華親身去找劉祖廸,「因為佢哋喺同一個 screen 度」,三人討論提及:「攬炒巴就去做一個精神領袖或者一個 influencer 嘅角色,我就係繼續國際線游說,T 就會喺香港 local 度做一啲ground work,大概意思係咁」,目的是推進為香港爭取自由民主的運動。 + +控方追問「ground work」的意思,李舉例指他自己屬於「後線」,所以不屬於做「ground work」;相反陳梓華則會做「ground work」,例如參加集會以及「真人喺香港落場嘅活動」。 + +就上述會議所提出的建議,李憶述他自己當時回應「OK」,「因為同我本來做緊嘅嘢冇分別。」控方問李日後是否根據三人之間的共識來行事。李則澄清,對於陳梓華叫他繼續做國際游說,「其實同我做緊嘅嘢冇分別,對於我嚟講,啫係講咗等於冇講過咁,事實上我的確係有做 international lobbying,咁算唔算做緊 in accordance with 佢講嘅嘢?」 + +控方問李,為何三人會在這個時間點進行視像會議?李回答當時大家主要想討論香港運動的方向。法官李運騰問李當時如何看待自己的角色,李宇軒稱他理解自己是「其中一個喺 international 做 lobbying 嘅香港人。」李官又問,為何只有他們三人參與會議。李則表示:「我當時冇諗過呢個問題。」 + +#### 李宇軒稱曾帶日本議員高井崇志 事後電郵傳送法案初稿 + +李指,在不同國家均有 SWHK 成員,包括美國、英國、加拿大、澳洲和日本等。而他在日本有進行國際游說。 + +李憶述,在2019年區議會選舉期間,時任日本國會議員高井崇志(Takashi, TAKAI)來港監察選舉,於是李與他在香港見面,談及香港當時民主情況和示威情況。李又稱在中大二號橋衝突之後,他帶了高井崇志到二號橋視察。 + +李表示,他與高井崇志事後有經電郵聯絡。在2020年,一個日本港人組織的義工張亦澄草擬了一份法案初稿,而李則於同年1月7日將此法案初稿電郵至高井崇志,詢問他的意見。李指他亦有傳送該電郵給另一名日本議員菅野志櫻里(Shiori, YAMAO [née KANNO])。 + +控方追問法案草稿的內容是關於什麼。李指是關於香港一些人權問題,擴展至國際層面的人權侵犯。他指上述電郵目的是希望日本議員能考慮會否採用這法案草稿的提議,並在議會上提出此法案,另外此電郵同時副本抄送給草擬人張亦澄,類似是李將張亦澄和高井崇志串連在一起,讓二人可加以討論。 + +關於張亦澄的背景,李指張並非香港人,相信他應該是中國內地人,但不肯定他有否入籍日本,而他的 Telegram 網名是「Katatsuki Hayashi」。李又指張曾經修讀法律,所以對法律範疇比較熟悉。 + +#### 李宇軒:2019年12月帶同催淚彈殼赴日本見議員 + +李另提及,他在2019年12月曾赴日本與兩名日本共產黨議員見面,包括井上哲志和山添拓,「同埋帶咗啲催淚彈彈頭畀佢哋睇⋯⋯啫係用過嗰啲。」李指是次會面是由日本一些關心香港的人士安排,可能是「Act with HK」或「SWHK@JPN」的成員,由於該兩個組織的人士「本來唔係特別有做 lobbying 嘅嘢」,同時「未有人想真身去見議員住,所以就彈咗畀我」。 + +案件下周一續審。 + +--- + +案件編號:HCCC51/2022