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#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

====
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#SaveAppleDaily #PressFreedom
The Countdown of HK's Pro-democracy Newspaper: #AppleDaily Stops its English and Finance News

At 11am on June 22, 2021, Apple Daily announced the suspension of its English news.

On the homepage, the newspaper published an article titled "Dear Readers". The newspaper writes:

"This concludes the updates of Apple Daily English. Thank you for your support."

The newspaper has also stopped updating its finance news online after midnight and aired the last episode of the 21:30 news report on June 21.

The 26-year-old top selling pro-democracy newspaper is closing down, after the Hong Kong government made it impossible for the newspaper to operate by freezing its assets, arresting its editors and executives and charging them with #NationalSecurityLaw.

Source: Stand News #Jun22
https://bit.ly/3djUNQj

====
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News Anchor Wishes Hongkongers Safe
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/30177

Former Staff Bids Farewell to the Newspaper
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/30179
#PoliceState #Journalism
#AppleDaily Journalists Confused by Hidden Message Reportedly Sent From the Hong Kong Police with a Book About WWII Spies

On June 17, 2021, the Hong Konv police raided the pro-democracy newspaper #AppleDaily and arrested 3 editors and 2 exeuctives on the charge of #NationalSecurityLaw.

The police stayed in the Next Digital Ltd. building for at least 5 hours and the National Security Department of the Hong Kong Police Force seized a large sum of items, including at least 38 computers that contain news materials.

A reporter recounted that, when he realised the building was being searched at 8 a.m., he took his laptop and worked in another area.

After the building was reopened in the afternoon, some reporters returned to their seats and found their desks in a mess: The police took away both their company’s computers and their hard disks.

Some of them even noticed a book that was originally shelved being placed in a prominent position on the table, after the police raid.

The book is called "Hong Kong Newspaper Company and Spies in the Occupational Period" and is written by Apple Daily’s former editor-in-chief Cheng Ming-yun.

Some journalists questioned whether the police was trying to send a message and criticize them in an obscured way.

However, it remains uncertain whether the police fully understood the content of the book. The book actually “studies how some Hong Kong newspapers appeared to be cooperative toward the authorities, while indirectly resisting the Japanese occupation during the Second World War.

Source: Hong Kong Citizen News #Jun17

https://youtu.be/iFAbXpZyxVc

#AsiasFinest #SaveAppleDaily #SupportAppleDaily

====
Related News:

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

https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/30172

News Anchor Wishes Hongkongers Safe

https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/30177

Former Staff Bids Farewell to the Newspaper

https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/30179
#PoliceState #SaveAppleDaily
National Security Police Arrests News Commentator; Pro-democracy #AppleDaily Will Shut Down In One Day

Source: Apple Daily; Stand News #Jun23

Read more
⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/30198
#PoliceState #SaveAppleDaily
National Security Police Arrests News Commentator; Pro-democracy #AppleDaily Will Shut Down In One Day

[Update: At around 16:10 on June 23, 2021, Next Digital released a new statement, annnouncing the closure of Apple Daily on June 24, 2021, due to the safety concern of its staff. The last edition will be released and the homepage will cease operating at 23:59 on the same day.]

At around 15:20 on June 23, 2021, #NextDigital, the parent company of #AppleDaily announced that the last edition of the pro-democracy newspaper will be released on Saturday, June 26 the latest, under the current circumstances in Hong Kong.

The homepage of the newspaper will be closed at 23:59 on the same day.

The company thanks the readers for their genuine support and the commitment of the newspapers' journalists, staff and advertisers.

However, according to several sources including iCable News, Now News and Stand News, the newspaper might shut down the earliest on Thursday, June 24, 2021--which is in one day.

On June 17, 2021, the police raided the newspaper, took away at least 38 computers and a large amount of journalistic material and arrested 3 editors and 2 executives on the charge of NationalSecutityLaw. Among them, editor-in-chief #RyanLaw and Next Digital CEO #CheungKimHung have been detained since then.

The founder of the newspaper #JimmyLai has also been jailed.

The authorites froze the assets of the 26-year-old newspaper and three connecting companies, obstructing its operation. The Secretary for Security of the Hong Kong SAR Government, #JohnLee, openly asked people and companies to "cut ties" with the pro-democracy newspaper.

On June 23, the police arrested a 55-year-old man, accusing him of "colluding with foreign powers" and "violating the National Security Law". The man, with the pen name "#LeePing", is a news commentator for Apple Daily's China news.

The police said more arrests might take place.

Source: Apple Daily; Stand News; InMedia #Jun23

#PressFreedom #PoliticalProsecution

https://bit.ly/3gPdn4U
https://bit.ly/3zLZR9w
https://bit.ly/2UyLHIV

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

https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/30172

#NextMegazine chief: “We’ve tried and enjoyed media freedom in the past. We have no regrets.”

https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/30201

News Anchor Wishes Hongkongers Safe
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/30177

Former Staff Bids Farewell to the Newspaper
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/30179

Apple Daily Stops its English and Finance News

https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/30188
#Hongkongers
Pro-democracy media chief: “We’ve tried and enjoyed media freedom in the past. We have no regrets.”

#LouiseWong Lai-Sheung, editor-in-chief of the #NextMagazine in Hong Kong wrote an open letter on the magazine’s Facebook on June 23, 2021 to bid farewell to readers.

Wong wrote that the Magazine has gone through many tough times in the past, including deep profit losses in 2016. Back then, vocal media tycoon, #JimmyLai Chee-yin, owner of the Next Magazine “warned” to roll-off the magazine and set a timeline to put pressure on his staff to work hard. Wong wrote, “He knows we are “attached” to the magazine. Not letting it fold is our biggest motivation.”

Wong continued in her letter, it took them 3 years to “remodel it” from traditional magazine to online media when readership and profits gradually picked up and meeting new highs. When subscription model was first put in place in Next Magazine in 2019, they were surprised to acquired over 100,000 subscribers. Despite that the magazine could not turn around its profits, but reduce loss.

Until June 21, “the editorial believes the big era has come to an end.”

Wong expressed in the letter that she is a sentimental person. But she didn’t shed tears. In the office that filled with shocks and anxieties, she told herself to remain calm and get on to an exit plan. Facing those staff who are still hopeful to continue operating the Magazine, she couldn’t help but told them to cut it off. “We’ve tried in the past and enjoyed media freedom. We have no regrets.”

Source: Apple Daily, #Jun23
https://bit.ly/3gVDndz

#SaveAppleDaily #ProtectAppleDaily #Journalism #PressFreedom

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Apple Daily Journalist: Hongkongers will not give up, journalists will never give up

Source: Stand News; InMedia #Jun23

Read more
⬇️⬇️⬇️
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/30203
#SaveAppleDaily #Hongkongers
Apple Daily Journalist: Hongkongers will not give up, journalists will never give up

Apple Daily local news journalist received flowers from supportive citizens, as he returned to the newspaper office.

Chan has worked for Apple Daily for over 3 years. He said he would miss "the Hong Kong with Apple Daily".

The 26-year-old top-selling pro-democracy newspaper will cease operation under the authorities' suppression. The last edition will be released after midnight on June 24, 2021.

Chan said all his colleagues are very busy and doing their best in their posts until the final moment of the newspaper.

"I also want to continuing my work at Apple Daily and that Next Digital can go on operating," Chan said. "But it is not we can have what we want."

Chan described Apple Daily as a place for media workers to pursue beliefs and ideals. Seeing editors and journalists getting arrested by the Hong Kong police, Chan said he could see the risk of being a journalist and asked fellow media workers and Hongkongers not to give up.

For its last edition, the newspaper will print 1 million copies. Chan reminded fellow Hongkongers, "Do get a copy of Apple Daily tomorrow!"

Source: Stand News; InMedia #Jun23

https://bit.ly/3vKjGuN

====
Related News

National Security Police Arrests News Commentator; Pro-democracy #AppleDaily Will Shut Down In One Day

https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/30198

#NextMegazine chief: “We’ve tried and enjoyed media freedom in the past. We have no regrets.”

https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/30201

Apple Daily Staff: "We will all become a sturdy apple tree"

https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/30205

News Anchor Wishes Hongkongers Safe
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/30177

Former Staff Bids Farewell to the Newspaper
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/30179
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#Hongkongers #SupportAppleDaily
Supporting Citizens Chant Outside #AppleDaily Office: "Hongkongers, fight on!"

On June 23, 2021, Apple Daily annnounced the printing of its last edition on the next day, due to the government's suppression of the 26-year-old pro-democracy newspaper.

Since the news of Apple Daily's closure was released, Hongkongers travelled to the newspaper office in Tseung Kwan O to pay tribute to the journalists and the staff who have been fighting for press freedom in the city. Some gave flowers to the staff.

The newspaper will print 1 million copies for its last edition.

In the evening, more and more supporting citizens, including parents with kids, gathered outside the premise, filling up the road, despite the rain.

The public chanted, "Support Apple Daily til the end!" and "Hongkongers, fight on!"

The staff of Apple Daily responded by flashing lights from their office. Some bowed to the supporting citizens.

Source: Stand News #Jun23
https://bit.ly/3wVUjra

#SaveAppleDaily
#SaveAppleDaily #Creativity
In the Rain, #Hongkongers Record their Emotions in #Art

Mr Lo, from the engineering sector, came to the #AppleDaily headquarters after work on June 23, 2021, drawing the final look of the building under the heavy rain.

Lo says that wants to record the feelings at the time in his drawing. He frankly says that his feelings are complicated, since this is the last day of Apple Daily, and the government will soon repossess the land on which the headquarters is built.

He has subscribed to Apple Daily for a long time, and says of his drawing: "This is a sign of something that will later disappear. When Apple Daily stops operating, the news industry will obviously get worse, only allowing one voice."

But he says to all Hongkongers, "There's room in any position at any industry to work hard and shine".

The pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily was closed down after releasing the final edition on June 24, 2021.

Source: In-Media #Jun23
https://bit.ly/3vKjGuN

#PoliticalSuppression