#FirstHand
Media tycoon Jimmy Lai granted bail before Christmas, on a heap of conditions including home detention
2315 | Admiralty
After clearing necessary procedures lasting as long as 5 hours, #JimmyLai was sighted departing the High Court Detention Centre around 11pm tonight (Dec 23, 2020). A large crowd of citizens waited for him outside, including Lai’s supporters and media representatives.
As condition of bail from his #NationalSecurityLaw charges, the pro-democracy tycoon was ordered to surrender his travel documents, and cannot post on social media, give interviews, publish articles, meet overseas officials, or ask foreign countries, institutions, or individuals to impose sanctions, blockade, or engage in any other "hostile activities" against Hong Kong or China.
#Court #Dec23
#PoliceState #HumanitarianCrisis
#NextDigital #AppleDaily
=======
Related article
#JimmyLai Granted Bail by High Court; Department of Justice Files Appeal Immediately and Requests Re-Detention
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/27477
Barrister Worries National Security Law’s Imprisonment Before conviction: ‘To be released on bail is basic human rights’
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/27272
Media tycoon Jimmy Lai granted bail before Christmas, on a heap of conditions including home detention
2315 | Admiralty
After clearing necessary procedures lasting as long as 5 hours, #JimmyLai was sighted departing the High Court Detention Centre around 11pm tonight (Dec 23, 2020). A large crowd of citizens waited for him outside, including Lai’s supporters and media representatives.
As condition of bail from his #NationalSecurityLaw charges, the pro-democracy tycoon was ordered to surrender his travel documents, and cannot post on social media, give interviews, publish articles, meet overseas officials, or ask foreign countries, institutions, or individuals to impose sanctions, blockade, or engage in any other "hostile activities" against Hong Kong or China.
#Court #Dec23
#PoliceState #HumanitarianCrisis
#NextDigital #AppleDaily
=======
Related article
#JimmyLai Granted Bail by High Court; Department of Justice Files Appeal Immediately and Requests Re-Detention
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/27477
Barrister Worries National Security Law’s Imprisonment Before conviction: ‘To be released on bail is basic human rights’
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/27272
Telegram
📡Guardians of Hong Kong
#Breaking #Court
#JimmyLai Granted Bail by High Court; Department of Justice Files Appeal Immediately and Requests Re-Detention
Updated at 16:51 (Hong Kong Time)
Apple Daily Founder Jimmy Lai, a pro-democracy media tycoon, was granted bail by Hong Kong's…
#JimmyLai Granted Bail by High Court; Department of Justice Files Appeal Immediately and Requests Re-Detention
Updated at 16:51 (Hong Kong Time)
Apple Daily Founder Jimmy Lai, a pro-democracy media tycoon, was granted bail by Hong Kong's…
#Court #NationalSecurityLaw
HK media tycoon Jimmy Lai faces appeal against bail after Beijing mouthpiece slams court’s decision and demands extradition to China
The Apple Daily founder and pro-democracy media mogul #JimmyLai, aged 73, is facing trial in Hong Kong for alleged fraud and violation of the national security law by colluding with foreign forces.
On December 23, 2020, Lai was granted bail of HK$10 million on the condition that he remains confined to his home, apart from when he reports to police three times a week, or needs to appear in court. Lai is barred from expressing his views in interviews, on social media and with foreign officials.
People’s Daily, a newspaper run by the Chinese Communist Party government, slammed the Judge’s decision. “Lai is notorious and extremely dangerous, yet he became the first suspect to be granted bail after being arrested for violating the national security law, which is inconceivable,” the article read.
The Chinese state media questioned whether Hong Kong courts had “juristiction difficulty” and warned that there are legal grounds for the case to be transferred to the mainland.
The mouthpiece of Beijing even claimed there are "legal grounds for China to invoke Article 55 of the National Security Law". Article 55 states China can "exercise jurisdiction over a case concerning offence endangering national security" if the case is complex due to the involvement of a foreign country or external elements, or if a serious situation occurs where the Hong Kong government can't effectively enforce the law.
The Department of Justice in Hong Kong immediately raised appeal against bail which will be heard at Hong Kong’s Court of Final Appeal on December 31, 2020.
On Dec 29, Lai stepped down as chairman of Next Digital and is replaced by Ip Yut-kin, a non-executive director of Next Digital.
Source: Apple Daily; Hong Kong Free Press; Bloomberg; HK CNews; Stand News #Dec27 #Dec29
https://hk.appledaily.com/local/20201227/HHLFE3D4NJCYXEIKDQGORDBQYM/
https://bit.ly/3aQHt5q
#CCP #PressFreedom #AppleDaily #NextDigital #FreeJimmyLai
HK media tycoon Jimmy Lai faces appeal against bail after Beijing mouthpiece slams court’s decision and demands extradition to China
The Apple Daily founder and pro-democracy media mogul #JimmyLai, aged 73, is facing trial in Hong Kong for alleged fraud and violation of the national security law by colluding with foreign forces.
On December 23, 2020, Lai was granted bail of HK$10 million on the condition that he remains confined to his home, apart from when he reports to police three times a week, or needs to appear in court. Lai is barred from expressing his views in interviews, on social media and with foreign officials.
People’s Daily, a newspaper run by the Chinese Communist Party government, slammed the Judge’s decision. “Lai is notorious and extremely dangerous, yet he became the first suspect to be granted bail after being arrested for violating the national security law, which is inconceivable,” the article read.
The Chinese state media questioned whether Hong Kong courts had “juristiction difficulty” and warned that there are legal grounds for the case to be transferred to the mainland.
The mouthpiece of Beijing even claimed there are "legal grounds for China to invoke Article 55 of the National Security Law". Article 55 states China can "exercise jurisdiction over a case concerning offence endangering national security" if the case is complex due to the involvement of a foreign country or external elements, or if a serious situation occurs where the Hong Kong government can't effectively enforce the law.
The Department of Justice in Hong Kong immediately raised appeal against bail which will be heard at Hong Kong’s Court of Final Appeal on December 31, 2020.
On Dec 29, Lai stepped down as chairman of Next Digital and is replaced by Ip Yut-kin, a non-executive director of Next Digital.
Source: Apple Daily; Hong Kong Free Press; Bloomberg; HK CNews; Stand News #Dec27 #Dec29
https://hk.appledaily.com/local/20201227/HHLFE3D4NJCYXEIKDQGORDBQYM/
https://bit.ly/3aQHt5q
#CCP #PressFreedom #AppleDaily #NextDigital #FreeJimmyLai
#Regime #Court #PoliticalSuppression
HK Authorities Freeze #JimmyLai's assets under #NationalSecurityLaw
On the evening of May 14, 2021, the Hong Kong government has frozen Apple Daily founder Jimmy Lai's personal assets under the national security law. This is the first time the authorities exercise this power, since the national security law was directly imposed by Beijing on Hong Kong without passing through the city's legislature in June 2020.
Lai is currently serving a 14-month sentence after being convicted of taking part in "unauthorised assemblies" during the pro-democracy movement in August 2019.
In a press release, the Security Bureau said Lai's shares of Next Digital Limited (282) and assets of three companies in local banks were all frozen. The value of the property frozen was not disclosed.
Apple Daily said Lai holds a 71 percent stake in #NextDigital, but the incident does not involve the account of Next Digital and the finances of #AppleDaily.
Whereas Article 6 of Hong Kong Basic Law indicates that the Hong Kong SAR government "protect the right of private ownership of property in accordance with law", the Security Bureau cited Article 43 of the national security law, claiming that “relevant persons and organisations must not, directly or indirectly, deal with certain property which is reasonably suspected to be related to offences endangering national security”.
Moreover, the Secretary for Security has the power to order police officers to seize property if he suspects it may be removed from Hong Kong.
Source: InMedia #May14
https://bit.ly/3uOXvnh
#PoliticalPrisoner #FrozenAsset #Confiscation #Economy #FailedState
HK Authorities Freeze #JimmyLai's assets under #NationalSecurityLaw
On the evening of May 14, 2021, the Hong Kong government has frozen Apple Daily founder Jimmy Lai's personal assets under the national security law. This is the first time the authorities exercise this power, since the national security law was directly imposed by Beijing on Hong Kong without passing through the city's legislature in June 2020.
Lai is currently serving a 14-month sentence after being convicted of taking part in "unauthorised assemblies" during the pro-democracy movement in August 2019.
In a press release, the Security Bureau said Lai's shares of Next Digital Limited (282) and assets of three companies in local banks were all frozen. The value of the property frozen was not disclosed.
Apple Daily said Lai holds a 71 percent stake in #NextDigital, but the incident does not involve the account of Next Digital and the finances of #AppleDaily.
Whereas Article 6 of Hong Kong Basic Law indicates that the Hong Kong SAR government "protect the right of private ownership of property in accordance with law", the Security Bureau cited Article 43 of the national security law, claiming that “relevant persons and organisations must not, directly or indirectly, deal with certain property which is reasonably suspected to be related to offences endangering national security”.
Moreover, the Secretary for Security has the power to order police officers to seize property if he suspects it may be removed from Hong Kong.
Source: InMedia #May14
https://bit.ly/3uOXvnh
#PoliticalPrisoner #FrozenAsset #Confiscation #Economy #FailedState
#PoliticalProsecution #PoliceState
HK Police Raids #AppleDaily Again: 3 Editors and 2 Executives Arrested for Breaching National Security Law
Apple Daily, the only pro-democracy newspaper in print in Hong Kong, has been the target of the national security police since the forced implementation of the national security law in the city in June 2020.
Even though founder #JimmyLai had already been arrested and remains in custody, the Hong Kong police continues to raid the headquarters of the newspaper and its parent company; seizing documents, computers and journalistic materials; and making arrests.
In the raid on June 17, 2021, the police deployed 500 officers and arrested five executives including editor-in-chief #RyanLaw.
The other four are deputy editor #ChanPuiMan, chief executive editor #CheungChiWai, chief executive #NextDigital #CheungKimHung, and the chief operating officer #ChowTatKuen.
Authorities claimed that the newspaper published articles allegedly calling for "foreign sanctions" and had been "colluding with foreign forces", thus has violated the national security law.
Some of the articles cited date back to 2019, before the law's implementation. The government had previously promised that the new law would not be applied to offences before the law had come into effect.
Meanwhile, Secretary for Security #JohnLee ordered freezing HK$18 million worth of assets from Apple Daily Limited, Apple Daily Printing Limited and AD Internet Limited, all under Jimmy Lai's Next Digital Limited. Li openly asked the public and the media to cut ties with the executives of Apple Daily.
When asked, Li admitted the government's intention to prevent the pro-democracy newspaper from being printed before July 1, 2021, the anniversary of the Hong Kong SAR's establishment, when large-scale protest takes place every year.
Photo: #FirstHand
Text: RTHK; Stand News; Apple Daily #Jun17
https://bit.ly/2Uh0iZn
https://bit.ly/35sgKIe
https://bit.ly/3zxfpOa
#Censorship #WhiteTerror #Intimidation #Smearing #Regime
HK Police Raids #AppleDaily Again: 3 Editors and 2 Executives Arrested for Breaching National Security Law
Apple Daily, the only pro-democracy newspaper in print in Hong Kong, has been the target of the national security police since the forced implementation of the national security law in the city in June 2020.
Even though founder #JimmyLai had already been arrested and remains in custody, the Hong Kong police continues to raid the headquarters of the newspaper and its parent company; seizing documents, computers and journalistic materials; and making arrests.
In the raid on June 17, 2021, the police deployed 500 officers and arrested five executives including editor-in-chief #RyanLaw.
The other four are deputy editor #ChanPuiMan, chief executive editor #CheungChiWai, chief executive #NextDigital #CheungKimHung, and the chief operating officer #ChowTatKuen.
Authorities claimed that the newspaper published articles allegedly calling for "foreign sanctions" and had been "colluding with foreign forces", thus has violated the national security law.
Some of the articles cited date back to 2019, before the law's implementation. The government had previously promised that the new law would not be applied to offences before the law had come into effect.
Meanwhile, Secretary for Security #JohnLee ordered freezing HK$18 million worth of assets from Apple Daily Limited, Apple Daily Printing Limited and AD Internet Limited, all under Jimmy Lai's Next Digital Limited. Li openly asked the public and the media to cut ties with the executives of Apple Daily.
When asked, Li admitted the government's intention to prevent the pro-democracy newspaper from being printed before July 1, 2021, the anniversary of the Hong Kong SAR's establishment, when large-scale protest takes place every year.
Photo: #FirstHand
Text: RTHK; Stand News; Apple Daily #Jun17
https://bit.ly/2Uh0iZn
https://bit.ly/35sgKIe
https://bit.ly/3zxfpOa
#Censorship #WhiteTerror #Intimidation #Smearing #Regime
#Solidarity
"We Will Press On": #AppleDaily Prints 500,000 Copies Despite Police Raid
The headline of Apple Daily on June 18, 2021 reads "Let us hang on", a message sent by
#CheungKimHung, the CEO of #NextDigital that owns the pro-democracy newspaper.
Read more:
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/30130
Despite the police raid and the arrest of 5 one day before, the newspaper vowed to its readers that their journalists and editors would carry out their duty continuously and unafraid.The newspaper even increased the prints to 500,000 copies.
"the staff of Apple Daily is standing firm. We will continue to persist as Hongkongers and live up to the expectations so that we have no regrets to our readers and the times we are in."
Source: Stand News; InMedia #Jun17
Read Apple Daily's Letter to the Readers:
https://hk.appledaily.com/news/20210617/XENTLS4QLZF55NV2GAPD7USUXI/
"We Will Press On": #AppleDaily Prints 500,000 Copies Despite Police Raid
The headline of Apple Daily on June 18, 2021 reads "Let us hang on", a message sent by
#CheungKimHung, the CEO of #NextDigital that owns the pro-democracy newspaper.
Read more:
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/30130
Despite the police raid and the arrest of 5 one day before, the newspaper vowed to its readers that their journalists and editors would carry out their duty continuously and unafraid.The newspaper even increased the prints to 500,000 copies.
"the staff of Apple Daily is standing firm. We will continue to persist as Hongkongers and live up to the expectations so that we have no regrets to our readers and the times we are in."
Source: Stand News; InMedia #Jun17
Read Apple Daily's Letter to the Readers:
https://hk.appledaily.com/news/20210617/XENTLS4QLZF55NV2GAPD7USUXI/
#PoliticalProsecution #PoliticalPrisoner #WhiteTerror
HK Police Charges #AppleDaily Editor-in-chief and #NextDigital CEO with #NationalSecurityLaw
Read more
⬇️⬇️⬇️
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/30149
HK Police Charges #AppleDaily Editor-in-chief and #NextDigital CEO with #NationalSecurityLaw
Read more
⬇️⬇️⬇️
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/30149
#PoliticalProsecution #PoliticalPrisoner #WhiteTerror
HK Police Charges #AppleDaily Editor-in-chief and #NextDigital CEO with #NationalSecurityLaw
At 10pm on June 18, 2021, deputy editor of Apple Daily, #ChanPuiMan, left the Tseung Kwan O police station on bail after being detained for over 40 hours.
Photos:
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/30148
She told the media that she was proud of her colleagues at Apple Daily who carried on their duty and responsibility, undeterred.
"I am proud of their professionalism," Chan said outside of the police station.
On June 17, 2021, 3 editors and 2 executives of Apple Daily were arrested by the Hong Kong police for #NationalSecurityLaw violation.
Read more:
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/30130
While chief executive editor #CheungChiWai and the chief operating officer #ChowTatKuen were also released on bail; the police pressed charges on the newspaper's editor-in-chief #RyanLaw and the chief executive of #NextDigital #CheungKimHung.The two will be mentioned in court the next day on June 19, 2021.
Before leaving, deputy editor Chan Pui-man said she will support her colleagues in court. Chan then left with her husband #ChungPuiKuen, the editor-in-chief of #StandNews.
Source: Stand News; Apple Daily #Jun18
https://bit.ly/3vDEN1R
#Censorship #PressFreedom #Professionalism #PoliceState
====
Related stories:
We Will Press On": Apple Daily Prints 500,000 Copies Despite Police Raid
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/30142
Hongkongers Rush to Support Apple Daily After Midnight
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/30140
HK Police Charges #AppleDaily Editor-in-chief and #NextDigital CEO with #NationalSecurityLaw
At 10pm on June 18, 2021, deputy editor of Apple Daily, #ChanPuiMan, left the Tseung Kwan O police station on bail after being detained for over 40 hours.
Photos:
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/30148
She told the media that she was proud of her colleagues at Apple Daily who carried on their duty and responsibility, undeterred.
"I am proud of their professionalism," Chan said outside of the police station.
On June 17, 2021, 3 editors and 2 executives of Apple Daily were arrested by the Hong Kong police for #NationalSecurityLaw violation.
Read more:
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/30130
While chief executive editor #CheungChiWai and the chief operating officer #ChowTatKuen were also released on bail; the police pressed charges on the newspaper's editor-in-chief #RyanLaw and the chief executive of #NextDigital #CheungKimHung.The two will be mentioned in court the next day on June 19, 2021.
Before leaving, deputy editor Chan Pui-man said she will support her colleagues in court. Chan then left with her husband #ChungPuiKuen, the editor-in-chief of #StandNews.
Source: Stand News; Apple Daily #Jun18
https://bit.ly/3vDEN1R
#Censorship #PressFreedom #Professionalism #PoliceState
====
Related stories:
We Will Press On": Apple Daily Prints 500,000 Copies Despite Police Raid
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/30142
Hongkongers Rush to Support Apple Daily After Midnight
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/30140
Telegram
📡Guardians of Hong Kong
#Newspaper
#AppleDaily Arrests Make Headlines Across the World: "Blatant Attack on Journalism", "Silencing All Dissent"
Source: BBC; AFP; Associated Press; #Jun17
Image: Stand News
Read more
⬇️⬇️
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/30152
#AppleDaily Arrests Make Headlines Across the World: "Blatant Attack on Journalism", "Silencing All Dissent"
Source: BBC; AFP; Associated Press; #Jun17
Image: Stand News
Read more
⬇️⬇️
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/30152
#Newspaper
#AppleDaily Arrests Make Headlines Across the World: "Blatant Attack on Journalism", "Silencing All Dissent"
News of national security arrests of #AppleDaily senior staff on June 17, 2021 in Hong Kong has been widely reported by mainstream news outlets across the world.
On June 18, 2021, the Hong Kong police presses charges on the newspaper's editor-in-chief #RayLaw and #NextDigital CEO #CheungKimHung.
The two are mentioned in court on June 19, 2021.
Read more:
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/30148
Below are excerpts from several news reports, in addition to other news media from Europe, Canada, Taiwan, Japan, Singapore, and more.
====
#BBCNews:
//Police entered the Apple Daily office premises at around 07:30 local time on Thursday (23:30 GMT Wednesday) and blocked off all entrances and exits.
Police said in a statement that they conducted a search operation at a media company, adding that their warrant "covered the power of searching and seizure of journalistic materials".
The police separately visited the homes of editor-in-chief Ryan Law, parent company Next Digital's CEO Cheung Kim-hung, COO Chow Tat-kuen, Apple Daily publisher Chan Pui-man and Director Cheung Chi-wai, and arrested them.
Police did not name those arrested but confirmed that the five people, aged between 47 and 63, were arrested for "collusion with a foreign country or with external elements to endanger national security".//
Full article: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-57507256
=====
#AssociatedPress
//In an apparent show of force, more than 200 police officers were involved in the search of Apple Daily’s offices.
Police also froze 18 million Hong Kong dollars ($2.3 million) in assets belonging to three companies linked to Apple Daily, said Li Kwai-wah, a senior superintendent at Hong Kong’s National Security Department.
Trading in shares of Next Digital was halted Thursday morning at the request of the company, according to filings with the Hong Kong stock exchange.
[Hong Kong Journalists Association Chairman Chris Yeung] said that the court warrant that allowed police to search the offices of Apple Daily had undermined journalists’ ability to protect their materials, a vital part of upholding press freedom.//
Full article:
https://apnews.com/article/hong-kong-arrests-business-97e0fbed611073be258763dcf80c4b7f
=====
#AFP
//The arrests are the latest police operation targeting the popular tabloid that has unapologetically supported the financial hub's pro-democracy movement.
It is the second raid on Apple Daily in less than a year.//
Full Article:
https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20210617-hong-kong-police-raid-pro-democracy-newspaper-apple-daily-arrest-five
#PressFreedom #PoliceState #Censorship #PoliticalProsecution
Image: Stand News
https://bit.ly/3q9AmdJ
#AppleDaily Arrests Make Headlines Across the World: "Blatant Attack on Journalism", "Silencing All Dissent"
News of national security arrests of #AppleDaily senior staff on June 17, 2021 in Hong Kong has been widely reported by mainstream news outlets across the world.
On June 18, 2021, the Hong Kong police presses charges on the newspaper's editor-in-chief #RayLaw and #NextDigital CEO #CheungKimHung.
The two are mentioned in court on June 19, 2021.
Read more:
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/30148
Below are excerpts from several news reports, in addition to other news media from Europe, Canada, Taiwan, Japan, Singapore, and more.
====
#BBCNews:
//Police entered the Apple Daily office premises at around 07:30 local time on Thursday (23:30 GMT Wednesday) and blocked off all entrances and exits.
Police said in a statement that they conducted a search operation at a media company, adding that their warrant "covered the power of searching and seizure of journalistic materials".
The police separately visited the homes of editor-in-chief Ryan Law, parent company Next Digital's CEO Cheung Kim-hung, COO Chow Tat-kuen, Apple Daily publisher Chan Pui-man and Director Cheung Chi-wai, and arrested them.
Police did not name those arrested but confirmed that the five people, aged between 47 and 63, were arrested for "collusion with a foreign country or with external elements to endanger national security".//
Full article: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-57507256
=====
#AssociatedPress
//In an apparent show of force, more than 200 police officers were involved in the search of Apple Daily’s offices.
Police also froze 18 million Hong Kong dollars ($2.3 million) in assets belonging to three companies linked to Apple Daily, said Li Kwai-wah, a senior superintendent at Hong Kong’s National Security Department.
Trading in shares of Next Digital was halted Thursday morning at the request of the company, according to filings with the Hong Kong stock exchange.
[Hong Kong Journalists Association Chairman Chris Yeung] said that the court warrant that allowed police to search the offices of Apple Daily had undermined journalists’ ability to protect their materials, a vital part of upholding press freedom.//
Full article:
https://apnews.com/article/hong-kong-arrests-business-97e0fbed611073be258763dcf80c4b7f
=====
#AFP
//The arrests are the latest police operation targeting the popular tabloid that has unapologetically supported the financial hub's pro-democracy movement.
It is the second raid on Apple Daily in less than a year.//
Full Article:
https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20210617-hong-kong-police-raid-pro-democracy-newspaper-apple-daily-arrest-five
#PressFreedom #PoliceState #Censorship #PoliticalProsecution
Image: Stand News
https://bit.ly/3q9AmdJ
Telegram
📡Guardians of Hong Kong
#Newspaper
#NationalSecurityLaw Charges Over #AppleDaily Editors and Executives Raise Concern Over Hongkongers' Situation Across the World
The Hong Kong police arrest of #AppleDaily senior staff on June 17, 2021 has been widely reported by news outlets across the world.
On June 19, the newspaper's editor-in-chief #RayLaw and #NextDigital CEO #CheungKimHung were mentioned in court for national security charges and were remanded afterwards. The next trial will take place in August 2021.
June 20, 2021 marks the 26th anniversary of the establishment of Apple Daily in Hong Kong. It is the only pro-democracy Chinese-language newspaper in print in the city.
===
#Reuters
//Five hundred Hong Kong police officers sifted through reporters’ computers and notebooks at pro-democracy tabloid Apple Daily on Thursday, the first case in which authorities have cited media articles as potentially violating the national security law.
“This is a blatant attack on the editorial side of Apple Daily,” Mark Simon, an adviser to Lai who is outside Hong Kong, told Reuters. “They’re arresting the top editorial folks.”
Asked how long he thinks the newspaper can survive, Simon said: “They decide, not us,” referring to authorities.//
Full article:
https://www.reuters.com/article/hongkong-security-apple-daily/update-2-hks-apple-daily-says-police-arrest-five-directors-in-latest-blow-to-tycoon-jimmy-lai-idUSL2N2NZ006
=====
#TheGuardian
//The raids were condemned by journalism and human rights groups.
Steven Butler, Asia program coordinator of the Committee to Protect Journalists, said the arrests destroyed “any remaining fiction that Hong Kong supports freedom of the press”.
“China, which controls Hong Kong, may be able to eliminate the paper, which it sees as an annoying critic, but only at a steep price to be paid by the people of Hong Kong, who had enjoyed decades of free access to information.”//
Full article:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jun/17/hong-kong-police-arrest-editor-in-chief-of-apple-daily-newspaper-in-morning-raids
====
#CNN
//Press freedoms are a fundamental right guaranteed by Hong Kong's Basic Law, the city's mini-constitution. But experts have worried about the usage of the national security law, and there have been indications of pressures on other media in the city.
A recent ranking of worldwide press freedoms, meanwhile, indicates that the environment in Hong Kong has deteriorated. The international watchdog Reporters Without Borders — which qualifies such freedoms based on data on abuse and acts of violence against journalists along with a questionnaire to experts — ranked Hong Kong 80 out of 180 countries for press freedom, down from 18 out of 138 in 2002.//
Full article:
https://edition.cnn.com/2021/06/16/media/apple-daily-arrests-intl-hnk/index.html
=====
#Bloomberg
//“Hong Kong has been left with little free speech under the national security law, which is really aimed at silencing all dissent,” said Victoria Hui, an associate professor of political science at the University of Notre Dame. “Beijing has reined in Hong Kong and will continue to take whatever it takes to silence any dissenting voices.”
In a letter to readers on Thursday afternoon, Apple Daily said police officers confiscated a “large number of items,” including the computers of 38 journalists, over the course of a five-hour search of the company’s offices.
The newspaper said it now “faces an unprecedented crackdown by the regime,” but vowed its staff would be “standing firm” despite the growing pressure.
“Hong Kong’s press freedom is now hanging by a thread,” the letter said. “Though we are facing a sweeping clampdown on our publication, the staff of Apple Daily will hold fast to our duties faithfully and press on till the end to see the arrival of dawn.”//
Full article:
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-06-16/hong-kong-arrests-apple-daily-editor-on-security-law-scmp-says
#PressFreedom #PoliceState #Censorship #PoliticalProsecution
Image: Stand News
#NationalSecurityLaw Charges Over #AppleDaily Editors and Executives Raise Concern Over Hongkongers' Situation Across the World
The Hong Kong police arrest of #AppleDaily senior staff on June 17, 2021 has been widely reported by news outlets across the world.
On June 19, the newspaper's editor-in-chief #RayLaw and #NextDigital CEO #CheungKimHung were mentioned in court for national security charges and were remanded afterwards. The next trial will take place in August 2021.
June 20, 2021 marks the 26th anniversary of the establishment of Apple Daily in Hong Kong. It is the only pro-democracy Chinese-language newspaper in print in the city.
===
#Reuters
//Five hundred Hong Kong police officers sifted through reporters’ computers and notebooks at pro-democracy tabloid Apple Daily on Thursday, the first case in which authorities have cited media articles as potentially violating the national security law.
“This is a blatant attack on the editorial side of Apple Daily,” Mark Simon, an adviser to Lai who is outside Hong Kong, told Reuters. “They’re arresting the top editorial folks.”
Asked how long he thinks the newspaper can survive, Simon said: “They decide, not us,” referring to authorities.//
Full article:
https://www.reuters.com/article/hongkong-security-apple-daily/update-2-hks-apple-daily-says-police-arrest-five-directors-in-latest-blow-to-tycoon-jimmy-lai-idUSL2N2NZ006
=====
#TheGuardian
//The raids were condemned by journalism and human rights groups.
Steven Butler, Asia program coordinator of the Committee to Protect Journalists, said the arrests destroyed “any remaining fiction that Hong Kong supports freedom of the press”.
“China, which controls Hong Kong, may be able to eliminate the paper, which it sees as an annoying critic, but only at a steep price to be paid by the people of Hong Kong, who had enjoyed decades of free access to information.”//
Full article:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jun/17/hong-kong-police-arrest-editor-in-chief-of-apple-daily-newspaper-in-morning-raids
====
#CNN
//Press freedoms are a fundamental right guaranteed by Hong Kong's Basic Law, the city's mini-constitution. But experts have worried about the usage of the national security law, and there have been indications of pressures on other media in the city.
A recent ranking of worldwide press freedoms, meanwhile, indicates that the environment in Hong Kong has deteriorated. The international watchdog Reporters Without Borders — which qualifies such freedoms based on data on abuse and acts of violence against journalists along with a questionnaire to experts — ranked Hong Kong 80 out of 180 countries for press freedom, down from 18 out of 138 in 2002.//
Full article:
https://edition.cnn.com/2021/06/16/media/apple-daily-arrests-intl-hnk/index.html
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#Bloomberg
//“Hong Kong has been left with little free speech under the national security law, which is really aimed at silencing all dissent,” said Victoria Hui, an associate professor of political science at the University of Notre Dame. “Beijing has reined in Hong Kong and will continue to take whatever it takes to silence any dissenting voices.”
In a letter to readers on Thursday afternoon, Apple Daily said police officers confiscated a “large number of items,” including the computers of 38 journalists, over the course of a five-hour search of the company’s offices.
The newspaper said it now “faces an unprecedented crackdown by the regime,” but vowed its staff would be “standing firm” despite the growing pressure.
“Hong Kong’s press freedom is now hanging by a thread,” the letter said. “Though we are facing a sweeping clampdown on our publication, the staff of Apple Daily will hold fast to our duties faithfully and press on till the end to see the arrival of dawn.”//
Full article:
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-06-16/hong-kong-arrests-apple-daily-editor-on-security-law-scmp-says
#PressFreedom #PoliceState #Censorship #PoliticalProsecution
Image: Stand News
Reuters
HK's Apple Daily raided by 500 officers over national security law
Five hundred Hong Kong police officers sifted through reporters' computers and notebooks at pro-democracy tabloid Apple Daily on Thursday, the first case in which authorities have cited media articles as potentially violating the national security law.