Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai Chee-ying is taken under police escort to the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts for trial, in Hong Kong, Dec 12, 2020. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

HONG KONG - Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai Chee-ying and six former staff of Next Digital and the defunct Apple Daily were remanded until their next court hearing on Dec 28 over charges of violating the National Security Law in Hong Kong.

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The cases were mentioned at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts on Tuesday, and the judge made the decision to hold the second court hearing at the request of the prosecution.

Lai is charged with individually and conspiring with others during July 2020 and February 2021 to request a foreign country or an institution, organization or individual outside the mainland, Hong Kong and Macao to impose sanctions or blockade, or engage in other hostile activities against the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) or the country. He is also accused of conspiring with others to obstruct justice during July and August of 2020.

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Ex-executives of Apple Daily Cheung Kim-hung and Ryan Law Wai-kwong, as well as the tabloid and its printing house, together with Yeung Ching-kee, Chan Pui-man, Fung Wai-kong and Lam Man-chung are accused of conspiring with others to request a foreign country or an institution, organization or individual outside the mainland, Hong Kong and Macao to impose sanctions or blockade, or engage in other hostile activities against the HKSAR or the country.