Hong Kong Authorities' #Crackdown on #StandNews

On December 29, 2021, over 200 national security police raided the office of Stand News, an independent online news outlet in Hong Kong.

Deputy assignment editor #RonsonChan – who also chairs the Hong Kong Journalists Association (#HKJA) – was reportedly held for investigation. Chan was filmed being taken away from his home by five national security police officers to “assist in investigations.”

In addition, 6 current and former members of the management have been arrested for "publishing seditious materials." The arrestees include singer #DeniseHo, barrister #MargaretNg, and former editor-in-chief #ChungPuiKuen.

https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/31751

According to InMedia, acting editor-in-chief #LamSiuTung resigned immediately after being arrested.

At 9:30am, tens of police were still taking boxes of documents away from Stand News office in Kwun Tong.

Source: InMedia #Dec29
https://bit.ly/3pxW4JY

#Arrest #PressFreedom #PoliceState #PoliticalProsecution

#Statement
#HKJA expresses deep concern on the arrest of directors and senior staff of #StandNews

The national security police arrested at least six current or former directors and senior staff of The Stand News on Dec 29 on suspicion of “conspiracy to distribute seditious publications” and are still searching the offices of Stand News on the late morning.

In a statement, the Hong Kong Journalists Association (HKJA) is "deeply concerned that the police have repeatedly arrested senior members of the media and searched the offices of news organizations containing large quantities of journalistic materials within a year."

The HKJA also "urges the government to protect press freedom in accordance with the Basic Law."

In addition, HKJA expressed that it "has learned that Ronson Chan Ron-sing, the deputy assignment editor of Stand News and the chairman of HKJA, was also taken away by the police this morning. We are investigating the incident and have no further comment at this time, but will announce any new information in due course."

Source: InMedia; Hong Kong Journalists Association #Dec29
https://www.hkja.org.hk/en/statements/statement-hkja-expresses-deep-concern-on-the-arrest-of-directors-and-senior-staff-of-the-stand-news/

#PoliticalOppression #FreedomOfSpeech #Crackdown #PressFreedom #MediaLandscape #PoliceState #Regime #Arrest

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Hong Kong Authorities' #Crackdown on #StandNews
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/31752

#StandNews #Crackdown
Stand News: Operation ceased; social media accounts will be removed

Stand News has announced via social media around 4pm today (Dec 29) that it has ceased operation. Its website and all social media accounts will be removed within the da. All employees are immediately laid off.

Below is the full translation of the announcement: ⬇️⬇️

#StandNews #Crackdown
Stand News: Operation ceased; social media accounts will be removed

Full translation of the announcement:

Today (Dec 29), Hong Kong Police arrested a number of our current and former management staff, and took away others for investigations. Police has also confiscated a number of computers and documents from our office. Stand News has offered help to the affected staff.

In light of these circumstances, Stand News will cease operation immediately; updates to the website and all social media are also stopped immediately, and will be removed within the day. Acting chief editor Lam Shiu-tong has already resigned; all Stand News staff are immediately laid off.

Stand News, formerly House News, was established in December 2014. Operating according to non-profit principles, it makes its stand on the home soil of Hong Kong. Its editing policy is independent, and strives to safeguard Hong Kong's core values: democracy, human rights, freedom, the rule of law, justice, and many more. It ceases operation on December 29, 2021.

We thank all readers for their continued support.

Stand News
2021.12.19

#Dec29 #PoliticalOppression #FreedomOfSpeech #Crackdown #PressFreedom #MediaLandscape #PoliceState #Regime #Arrest

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Hong Kong National Security raid pro-democracy newspaper, arrested 6 senior staff
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Hong Kong Authorities' #Crackdown on #StandNews
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/31752

#PoliceState #Arrest
Hong Kong Police Issues Arrest warrant for the founder of Stand News

Hong Kong national security police crackdown on Stand News on early morning of December 29, 2021 and arrested 7 current and former staff members of the pro-democracy newspaper.

Sources revealed that the Hong Kong Police is seeking to arrest the paper's founder Tony Choi Tung-ho. Choi had reportedly left Hong Kong to reside in Australia.

Source: Citizen News #Dec29

#Media #PoliceState #Regime

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Stand News: Operation ceased; social media accounts will be removed
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/31757

Hong Kong National Security raid pro-democracy newspaper, arrested 6 senior staff
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Hong Kong Authorities' #Crackdown on #StandNews
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/31752

#StandNews Thanks Hongkongers for Their Support Despite Political Oppression
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/31765

The Last Day of #StandNews: Hongkongers' Professionalism and Perseverance

Stand News, an independent news outlet in Hong Kong, was founded in December 2014, and it has come to an end after seven years.

Two years ago in 2019, Hong Kong was caught up in the historic #AntiELAB movement. Stand News provided live streams on the frontlines in various districts, narrating the latest situation live, recording the city's most tumultuous moments. Their efforts made Stand News stand out from the numerous news media platforms.

In June 2021, the National Security Bureau arrested senior personnel from #NextMedia, forcing the shut down of #AppleDaily and leading to the closure of a number of publications. Stand News became the largest open, pro-democracy online news website in Hong Kong.

However, the #HKSAR government singled out Stand News on numerous occasions this year, accusing the company for "misleading" reporting of the CUHK clashes and smart prisons.

Finally on December 29, 2021, after a number of current and former seniors were arrested and the company's assets frozen, Stand News announces to cease operation and to dismiss its entire staff.

Staff members returned to the Stand News office in the afternoon, one after another. By the evening, many of them are still in the office, and rounds of applause are occasionally heard. They also took photographs with the journalists waiting outside the office, recording of their moment in history: "I have fought a good fight."

Stand News suspends its website, Facebook page, Youtube channel, and Twitter and Instagram accounts at 11pm on December 29. All content has been removed.

Source: CitizenNews; InMedia #Dec29

#Media #PoliticalOppression #PressFreedom #Regime #Arrest #PoliceState #PoliticalProsecution #NSL

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Stand News: Operation ceased; social media accounts will be removed
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Hong Kong National Security raid pro-democracy newspaper, arrested 6 senior staff
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https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/31752

Stand News Thanks Hongkongers for Their Support Despite #PoliticalOppression
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Hong Kong Police Issues Arrest warrant for Stand News founder
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The Last Stand of #StandNews in Hong Kong
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/31770

Pro-democracy Hong Kong Singer #DeniseHo Arrested by National Secutity Police: I feel Alright

On December 29, 2021, the National Security Police in Hong Kong arrested singer #DeniseHo and 5 other current and former #StandNews senior personnel.

The authorities accused them of "conspiring to publish seditious publications."

Through the administrator of her facrbook page, after the arrest Denise Ho told Hongkongers, "I feel alright. To those who care about me, please don’t be worried."

Source: Yseedsmedia #Dec29

#HOCC #Media #PoliceState #Regime #Arrest

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Stand News: Operation ceased; social media accounts will be removed
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Hong Kong National Security raid pro-democracy newspaper, arrested 6 senior staff
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Hong Kong Authorities' #Crackdown on #StandNews
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/31752

#StandNews Thanks Hongkongers for Their Support Despite Political Oppression
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#Court #PoliticalProsecution
Former #StandNews editors Denied Bail; UK office Ceases Operation a Day after crackdowns by Hong Kong Authorities

In Hong Kong, two former Stand News editors #ChungPuiKuen and Patrick #LamSiuTung were denied bail by West Kowloon Court on 30 December, 2021, one day after they were arrested by Hong Kong national security police.

Former editor-in-chief Chung Pui-kuen, and former acting editor-in-chief #PatrickLam were accused of "conspiring with others to publish or reproduce seditious publications" between July 7, 2020 and December 29, 2021.

Chung was the only defendant appeared at the hearing while Lam could not attend due to health reasons. Both defendants were remanded in custody as the magistrate was not convinced that they would not carry out acts endangering national security.

Outside the magistrate court, tens of former employees of Stand News gathered to bid farewell to Chung Pui-kuen. Many of them broke into tears as they waved goodbye to Chung. Others called out words of encouragement for Chung to stay strong.

Police on the site, however, shouted at the crowd disrespectfully, ordering them to go away and leave.

Meanwhile, #YeungTinShui, head of Stand News’ office in the UK, announced on Facebook on December 30, 2021 that the office has ceased operations and he had resigned.

On December 29, 2021, the national security police arrested senior staff members and board directors of Stand News and froze the outlet's assets that worth HK$61 million. The Force raided the news outlet's newsroom and offices in Hong Kong, seized 62 computers, 27 storage devices and six boxes of documents in the operation. Stand News, a popular pro-democracy online media outlet, was forced to fold its operation and dismissed all employees on the same day.

#Media #PoliticalOppression #PressFreedom #Arrest #Regime #PoliceState #PoliticalProsecution

Source: Inmediahk.net, RTHK; #Dec30
https://bit.ly/31bUO5L

====
Related News:

Stand News: Operation ceased; social media accounts will be removed
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/31757

Hong Kong National Security raid pro-democracy newspaper, arrested 6 senior staff
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/31751

Hong Kong Authorities' #Crackdown on Stand News
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/31752

Stand News Thanks Hongkongers for Their Support Despite #PoliticalOppression
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/31765

Hong Kong Police Issues Arrest warrant for Stand News founder
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/31766