Messages between activist Andy Li Yu-hin and de Pulford, who was involved in founding the alliance, show the former asking the UK politician if he needed “support” from Hong Kong media outlets.
“Yes, I’m just briefing Jimmy L. Will give you press release [sic],” de Pulford replied.
Li, a defendant turned prosecution witness, confirmed Lai was the person referred to by the UK politician in the messages, but said he was unsure what the Briton hoped to achieve.
He said lobbying group “Fight for Freedom, Stand with Hong Kong” (SWHK), of which he was a core member, later accepted the alliance’s invitation to join its central secretariat and provide technical assistance.
The former programmer said he helped design IPAC’s website and liaised with joining Japanese legislators, including then House of Representatives member Shiori Kanno.
They earlier contended in their opening speech that IPAC comprised legislators “who had taken a strong stand against [China]” and who would “summon support for implementing policies on matters related to [China], including the imposition of sanctions”.
Li said SWHK helped the alliance publish a series of statements in 2020 to condemn the Beijing-imposed national security law and warn of its consequences.
The Jimmy Lai trial so far: daily updates on his Hong Kong national security case
The Jimmy Lai trial so far: daily updates on his Hong Kong national security case
The statements include one from two New Zealand lawmakers on July 6 of that year, which urged their country’s administration to “confirm that there will be no extraditions made to Hong Kong under this new law”.
De Pulford asked the group to identify “the single most powerful thing which IPAC could do on [Hong Kong]”, adding the alliance needed to take concrete action aside from issuing statements and also make realistic requests.
But the former activist stressed his comments in the chat group were not representative of SWHK’s position on the situation.
The trial continues on Thursday.