Hong Kong democrat Jimmy Lai testified on Wednesday for the first time in his landmark national security trial, saying he had never tried to influence the foreign policy of other countries, such as the U.

Former Hong Kong publisher Jimmy Lai is fighting charges of colluding with foreign forces to endanger national security and conspiring with others to issue seditious publications.

Jailed Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai insisted his newspaper had championed democracy and "freedom" as he took the witness stand Wednesday for the first time in his trail for collusion with foreign forces.