Andy Li is an activist and one of the founding members of the pro-democracy advocacy group "Hong Kong Story" (香港故事). He was the founder and spokesperson for an independent grassroots organisation "Stand With Hong Kong" which rallies international support for Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement in 2019. In his role, Li established an election observation mission to monitor Hong Kong's district elections in November 2019. He organized crowdfunding campaigns to buy out advertisement spaces to urge world governments to "Stand with Hong Kong at G20" in leading publications in more than 10 countries, including the New York Times, Guardian, Globe and Mail, and Japan Times. [1][2]

On Aug. 10, 2020, Li was arrested and charged with colluding with foreign powers. [3] After being released on bail, he attempted to flee to Taiwan by speedboat with 11 other Hongkongers but was intercepted by Chinese coast guards. [4] They were arrested by Chinese authorities and were later known as the "12 Hong Kong Youths" (十二港人). [5]

Li was sentenced to seven months for illegal border crossing in China. The Washington Post investigated Li’s case and found evidence of torture during his imprisonment in China — "Seven people familiar with conditions at the center said screaming could consistently be heard coming from one cell: Li’s." [6]

After being released from Chinese prison on Mar. 21, 2021, Li was immediately handed over to Hong Kong's Yuen Long police station. Since then, he was out of contact for two weeks and reportedly held in a secure psychiatric facility in Hong Kong following his return, preventing his contact with family and the press. [7] [8]

Li was charged with collusion with foreign powers, conspiracy to commit a crime, and possession of arms or ammunition. On Aug. 19, 2021, he pled guilty to collusion with foreign powers, becoming the second convictions under the National Security Law. [9] The other two charges were left on court record. Despite his guilty plea, his sentencing has been adjourned several times at the prosecutor's request, pending the conclusion of Jimmy Lai’s trial. Li has remained in custody for more than three years since pleading guilty. [10]

Jimmy Lai’s trial started on Dec. 18, 2023, and Li became a prosecution witness. However, the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture has written to Chinese authorities to express concerns about the legitimacy of Li's testimony in Jimmy Lai’s trial citing reports that they had been obtained through torture. The statement emphasised, "An investigation into these allegations must be conducted immediately, before any evidence is admitted into these proceedings." [11] [12]