Former media tycoon Jimmy Lai gave instructions to use Apple Daily as a platform to call for protests and seek foreign support in 2019, an ex-senior executive of the now-defunct newspaper said on Wednesday in the national security trial of his former boss.

Former Apple Daily publisher Cheung Kim-hung, who began his testimony as the first accomplice witness in Lai's trial, is among six former staff members who admitted to conspiracy to commit collusion.

Cheung said Lai, the newspaper's founder and largest shareholder, had become more involved with its editorial policies since 2014 in light of the Occupy Central movement, to promote calls for democracy and universal suffrage.

And since the start of the 2019 anti-extradition bill movement, the defendant gave instructions to the newspaper to encourage people to take to the streets and pressure the government, and to seek the support of Western countries and to possibly impose sanctions, Cheung said.

Lai had "a very clear image" as someone who supported democracy, freedom and anti-totalitarianism, the former publisher added.

Cheung also said he was assigned to record details of weekly lunch meetings led by Lai, who shared his thoughts and the newspaper's editorial policies.

He said his ex-boss was the “top leader and ultimate decision-maker” at Next Digital, and that as CEO he was responsible for carrying out instructions given by Lai and the board of directors.

The former media tycoon was “actively involved” in the group’s decisions and operations, even when he was a non-executive director between February 2018 and May 2020, Cheung added.

Responding to questions about Apple Daily's operations, Cheung said the editor-in-chief reviewed and approved articles while the publisher made sure everything suited the editorial policies of Lai and the newspaper.

The court will continue to hear Cheung's testimony on Thursday.

Lai had earlier denied three conspiracy charges relating to collusion with foreign forces and sedition.