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#WhiteTerror #PoliticalProsecution
Arrests, National Security Charges and Frozen Assets: Pro-Democracy #AppleDaily Might Shut Down in 5 Days

At around 15:45 on June 21, 2021 in Hong Kong, the executive board of Apple Daily came to a decision: The city's only Chinese-language pro-democracy newspaper will be shut down. The exact closing date will be announced on Friday, 25 June, 2021, which would possibly be the last operating day of the 26-year-old top selling newspaper. In other words, Saturday, 26 June could be the last time for the newspaper to appear.

The Hong Kong police raided the newspaper office with over 500 officers on June 17, 2021 and arrested 3 editors and 2 executives for "colluding with foreign powers" under #NationalSecurityLaw. Among them, editor-in-chief #RyanLaw and #NextDigital CEO #CheungKimHung were charged with breaching the national security law.

Apple Daily founder #JimmyLai has been arrested and detained since January 2021.

The Hong Kong government has been freezing the assets of Apple Daily and its connecting companies, to block the newspaper's from operating and paying salary. #MarkSimon, an adviser to Jimmy Lai, told Reuters that "vendors tried to put money into our accounts and were rejected".

According to sources, following the decision of the board on June 21, the management of Apple Daily notified all its staff of the possibility of resignation with immediate effect. The newspaper hopes to issue adequate compensation salary to its employees, but it depends whether the government will allow the company to do so. The board has issued a letter to the Security Bureau of the Hong Kong SAR Government regarding the matter, demanding a reply on Friday, June 25.

The management said they understand the potential risks under the current circumstances and will let their staff to make their own decision. The management thanks their staff for their contribution and professionalism in the newspaper's continuous fight for press freedom.

Source: Apple Daily; Now News; Stand News #Jun21

https://bit.ly/3xAHW3J

https://bit.ly/3qdAf0U

#PoliceState #NationalSecurityLaw #PressFreedom #HongKongMedia #Journalism #PoliticalSuppression #FrozenAsset #FreeJimmy #SaveAppleDaily #SupportAppleDaily

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Timeline:

[June 17, 2021] HK Police Raids Apple Daily Again and Arrests 3 Editors and 2 Executives

https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/30130

"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

[June 18, 2021] HK Police Charges Apple Daily Editor-in-chief and #NextDigital CEO with #NationalSecurityLaw

https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/30149

[June 21, 2021]
HK’s Pro-democracy Newspaper #AppleDaily to shut within days according to #JimmyLai adviser

https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/30169
#SupportAppleDaily #NeverGiveUp
News Anchor Wishes Hongkongers Safe on the Last Night of the #AppleDaily News Broadcast

Source: Stand News; InMedia; Apple Daily #Jun21

https://bit.ly/3gRQMTU

Read more
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https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/30177
#SupportAppleDaily #NeverGiveUp
News Anchor Wishes Hongkongers Safe on the Last Night of the #AppleDaily News Broadcast

The parent company of the pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily, #NextDigital, held a board meeting on June 21, 2021 to decide the fate of the newspaper in the face of the Hong Kong government's suppression.

The board past the motion of sending a letter to the Secretary for Security, #JohnLee Ka-chiu to demand a reply on Friday, June 25, 2021--the company asked whether part of the Apple Daily’s funds can be unfrozen for salary payment.

According to sources, many Apple Daily’s employees expect Saturday, June 26, 2021 to be the last publishing day of Apple Daily. There is also sayings that the newsaper could be shut down as soon as on Wednesday.

As for the “21:30 Apple Daily News Broadcast”, it had its last screening on the evening of June 21. The headline inquired the whereabouts of Next Digital.

At the end of the programme, anchor #TseHingYi said that it is a hard way forward and wished everyone safe and sound.

Tse also sent a message to all media workers in Hong Kong, encouraging them to hang on and stand strong.

“Even though our platform is disappearing, Hong Kong journalists will hold onto their posts and defend the truth,” said Tse.

Watch the video here:
https://youtu.be/BsvcMNoGHqQ

Source: Stand News; InMedia; Apple Daily #Jun21

https://bit.ly/3gRQMTU

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Related News:

Arrests, National Security Charges and Frozen Assets: Apple Daily Might Shut Down in 5 Days

https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/30172

Voices are Disappearing in Face of "Stability and Prosperity"

https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/30175
#OpinionArticle #SaveAppleDaily
Former Apple Daily Staff Bids Farewell to the Newspaper

Source: Terry’s Lazy Class #Jun21

Read more
⬇️⬇️
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/30179
#OpinionArticle #SaveAppleDaily
Former Apple Daily Staff Bids Farewell to the Newspaper

[Editor's note: The following was written by veteran media worker Terry Yeung, who used to work at Apple Daily and is now publishing regularly on different social media platforms. Yeung recounted his visit to the Apple Daily office after learning the news of the newspaper's forced closure on June 21, 2021]

"After receiving the news, I broke into tears during a meeting. I bought some cakes and hurried back to my 'old home'.

I left Next Digital for some time, but this place is always my alma mater.

Entering through the gate, I bumped into Ms S, who hired me seven years ago. She took me in and let a dumb kid have his first taste in the media industry.

I just took this photo with a banner that writes “Great Work, colleagues!”. It was hanged on the second floor, visible from the lobby.

Ms C of Finance News rushed over for a hug. Her eyes were all red.

Ms F and Mr. H from the same team patted me on the shoulder. The silence said all.

I visited the 'Apple Seed' team and greeted Ms I, who was burying herself in work in order to make sure every colleague is well.

Animal News reporter Ms A hugged me as soon as she saw me. We have known each other for seven years.

I ran into Manager B, a very good friend of mine. We used to go buy siu mei at the Canteen on the fifth floor together.

The cashier screamed when she spotted me. Another familar face from the canteen cried out: “Why are you coming back? Are you paying me a visiting?”

Some former colleagues were taking group photos in the lobby, while some others were still busy in meetings as usual.

If there is still Apply Daily tomorrow, there are articles to be written and printed.

This is the daily routine in Next Digital--things got to be done. It is a sad moment, but there is no time to be immersed in sadness.

Today, many people cried while hugging me. After that, they continued to write articles and work in silence.

As long as Apple Daily is still here, there are news to be published.

The office of Mr. Cheung Kim-hung is vacant.
The seat of Mr. Lai Chee-ying is empty.

The staff of the newspaper vow to work until the end, until they can report news no more.

It is my honour to have been a part of Apple Daily."

Source: Terry’s Lazy Class #Jun21

https://www.facebook.com/108102623935984/posts/529270185152557/

#PoliceState #NationalSecurityLaw #PressFreedom #HongKongMedia #Journalism #FreeJimmy #SaveAppleDaily

====
Related News:

Arrests, National Security Charges and Frozen Assets: Apple Daily Might Shut Down in 5 Days

https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/30172

Voices are Disappearing in Face of "Stability and Prosperity"

https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/30175
#FirstHand #Jun21
Two courageous young men call for HongKongers to fight for truth and democracy amidst "National Security threat"

It has been the 23th month since the #YuenLong721Attack took place on July 21, 2019, when Hong Kong Police turned a blind eye to hundreds of pro-democracy protesters being brutally assaulted by white-clad mobsters on their way home in Yuen Long MTR station.

This day, only two brave young men were seen at the station, calling on HongKongers to hold on to the truth of the attack. They also urged public attention for those pro-democracy legislators and councilors being arrested under the National Security Law, including #NgWaiKin, a district councilor in Yuen Long.

In front of these two peaceful young men was a disproportionally large team of police officers, watching closely on their every action.

#PoliceState #HongKongProtests #721YuenLong
#FirstHand #Jun21
HK Police Arrests Man for Hanging Pro-democracy Banner on Clothes-Drying Rack

A pro-democracy protest banner that read “Liberate Hong Kong, Revolution of our Times” was seen hanging outside a residential building on Fife Street in Mong Kok, Hong Kong on June 21, 2021.

The police arrested a 40-year-old man on suspicion of publishing sedition texts.

At around 17:30 in the afternoon, approximately 20 police officers went up to the flat and took the banner away. Four officers stationed at the entrance of the building while others escorted residents to go up to their home.

Plain clothed officers were also seen at the scene taking videos.

Photo: First Hand
Text: Stand News, #Jun21
https://www.thestandnews.com/politics/%E6%97%BA%E8%A7%92%E5%94%90%E6%A8%93%E5%A4%96%E6%8E%9B-%E5%85%89%E6%99%82-%E6%97%97-40-%E6%AD%B2%E7%94%B7%E8%A2%AB%E6%8C%87%E7%99%BC%E8%A1%A8%E7%85%BD%E5%8B%95%E6%96%87%E5%AD%97%E8%A2%AB%E6%8D%95/

#PoliceState #ProtestBanner #Arrest #Sedition
How China broke the Asian model
 
“What do you think is unique about the China model?” That was the question posed to me by a television reporter, last time I was in Beijing. My answer was that I don’t think there was a specific Chinese economic model. 

 There is an east Asian development model of rapid, export-driven industrialisation that was pioneered by Japan, South Korea and Taiwan. What China did was to pursue the same model — at scale. I added that China’s one real innovation was that the country had not liberalised politically as it had grown richer. This sets China apart from the South Koreans and Taiwanese.

Source: Financial Times #Jun21

https://t.co/sgsneOT8vc

#China #Asian #SouthKorea #Taiwan
#SupportAppleDaily
Authorities' Suppression of #AppleDaily Fuels #PublicAnger Online, #Analysis Shows

Source: Hong Kong Citizens News #Jun21

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#SupportAppleDaily
Authorities' Suppression of #AppleDaily Fuels #PublicAnger Online, #Analysis Shows

According to ASI #BigData Analysis by Hong Kong Citizens News, in the week following the police raid of Apple Daily, there were over 56,000 posts relating to the now-shut-down pro-democracy newspaper on Facebook.

Statements containing foul language peaked on Thursday, June 17, 2021, constituting 75% of the posts. It indicates that the public were very concerned about Apple Daily, and showed huge discontent towards the government's treatment of the pro-democracy newspaper.

June 17, 2021 was the day the Hong Kong police raided the Apple Daily office and arrested 3 editors and 2 executives, accusing them of #NationalSecurity breaches.

On forums used mainly by young non-pro-Establishment Hongkongers, around 36,000 posts have been made in the past 7 days. The use of foul language peaked on the afternoon of Friday, June 18, 2021, constituting 30% of the comments.

June 18 marks the day when the Hong Kong police presses charges at the newspaper's editor-in-chief #RyanLaw and #NextDigital CEO #CheungKimHung with the #NationalSecurityLaw.

Source: Hong Kong Citizens News #Jun21
https://bit.ly/3gNbUuI

https://www.facebook.com/hkcnews/posts/1476391809370890
FRONTLINE Wins Peabody Award for ‘China Undercover’

China Undercover, FRONTLINE’s documentary investigating what has been described as the largest mass incarceration of an ethnic group since the Holocaust, was named a 2021 George Foster Peabody Award winner in the News category on Monday. The April 2020 documentary went inside China’s tightly controlled Xinjiang region to explore the Chinese Communist regime’s mass imprisonment of an estimated 2 million Uyghur and other Muslim minorities — and its use and testing of sophisticated surveillance technology on Muslim communities.

Source: FrontLine #Jun21

https://t.co/ddjMVRTzrM

#FRONTLINE #PeabodyAward #China #Ethnic
Honoring Jimmy Lai

The Committee to Protect Journalists was founded 40 years ago to fight for journalists who are “attacked, imprisoned or killed.” In this spirit, the CPJ on Monday announced it is honoring Hong Kong’s Jimmy Lai with its 2021 Gwen Ifill Press Freedom Award. Mr. Lai, the founder, owner and contributor to the Apple Daily newspaper, won’t be able to accept the award in person because he sits in prison in Hong Kong.

The CPJ honor comes after another police raid on the newsroom last week. Five Apple Daily execs were arrested, and two—editor-in-chief Ryan Law and chief executive officer Cheung Kim-hung—were charged under the new national security law and thus denied bail. The CPJ notes that Mr. Lai “fights for the right of his Apple News organization to publish freely, even as China and its backers in Hong Kong use every tool to quash them.”

Source: WSJ #Jun21

https://www.wsj.com/articles/honoring-jimmy-lai-11624248153

#JimmyLai #Journalist #Freedom #Award
Bachelet seeks Xinjiang trip amid reports of Uighur persecution

UN human rights chief Michele Bachelet has said she hopes to agree terms for a visit this year to China, including its Xinjiang region, to look into reports of serious violations against the Uighur minority.
“I continue to discuss with China modalities for a visit, including meaningful access, to the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region,” Bachelet said on Monday, addressing the opening of a Human Rights Council session in Geneva.

Source: Aljazerra #Jun21

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/6/21/bachelet-seeks-2021-xinjiang-visit-amid-alleged-rights-abuses

#China #Bachelet #Xinjiang #Uighur
#Racism
Chinese man held over #racist videos and claims his aims to spread Chinese culture

Source: BBC #Jun21

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#Racism
Chinese man held over #racist videos and claims his aims to spread Chinese culture

A Chinese filmmaker wanted by Malawi as part of an investigation into allegations of racism and child exploitation has been arrested.

#LuKe was a #Malawi resident when he was exposed by #BBC #AfricaEye, which reported he had used local children to film personalised greetings videos, some of which included racist content.

These videos can be bought for up to $70 (£55) on Chinese social media and internet platforms.

Lu Ke denied making derogatory videos.

He said he made his videos in order to spread Chinese culture to the local community.
In one of the videos seen by the BBC, a group of young children is made to chant - in Chinese - "I'm a black monster. My IQ is low", clearly unaware of what they are saying.//

Read the full article:
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-61862619

Source: BBC #Jun21

#ChineseInternet #SocialMedia #Weibo #Weixin #Africa #ChineseinAfrica
Hong Kong: Tech Firms Should Oppose Protest Song Ban

Tech companies should oppose the Hong Kong government’s application for an injunction to ban broadcasting and distribution of the 2019 protest song, “Glory to Hong Kong,” Human Rights Watch said today.

In a June 20, 2023 letter, more than 24 human rights and digital rights groups urged companies including Apple, Google, Meta, Twitter, and Spotify to oppose a potential injunction by the High Court of Hong Kong to protect the right to freedom of expression and access to information in Hong Kong and around the world. The injunction, if ordered by the court, would require that companies remove the song from their respective platforms, effectively banning it online.

#Injunction #Protest #Song #HongKong #GlorytoHongKong

Source: Human Right Watch #Jun21

https://www.hrw.org/news/2023/06/20/hong-kong-tech-firms-should-oppose-protest-song-ban