Former media tycoon Jimmy Lai sought to paint China in a negative light in Apple Daily’s English edition so the United States would take hostile actions against Beijing, an ex-senior executive of the now-defunct outlet told Lai's national security trial on Wednesday.

Cheung Kim-hung said the newspaper's English version was more “extreme” and “negative” than the Chinese edition.

The court heard Lai decided to introduce the English edition following a suggestion from Apple Daily columnist Fung Hei-kin.

Cheung said the English version was initially managed by him and other senior editorial staff before Fung Wai-kong rejoined Apple Daily and took over.

Cheung, who was also Apple Daily's publisher, told the court Lai said what American readers needed to read the most were articles against Beijing after the start of Covid-19.

“Lai felt that the Chinese Communist Party regime was suppressing human rights, covering up [issues] and lacking integrity, so he hoped to portray this image to foreign readers,” he said.

The defendant hoped that the English edition could “influence public opinion in the United States and thus create an impact on American politics,” in order for Washington to take hostile actions such as sanctions, to “protect Hong Kong and Apple Daily”, the court heard.

Cheung also said Lai proposed more coverage on Taiwan in the English version to try to garner US attention.

The court also heard the former media tycoon asked his personal assistant, Mark Simon, to appeal to US government officials to subscribe to the English edition of Apple Daily, but the attempt was unsuccessful.

The mobile app of the newspaper's English edition was available in most countries, except those in the European Union and mainland China, Cheung added.

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

Cheung is among six former staff who admitted to conspiracy to commit collusion.

The trial continues on Thursday.