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#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
#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
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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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Related News:

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
#PoliceState #AsiasFinest
Two more ministers with a police background in Hong Kong; Pro-China lawmaker: "I don’t think there’s any problem with a police state"

On June 25, 2021, the Hong Kong SAR government announced personnel change in the top adminstration, where at least two more officials with law enforcement backgrounds will take up key senior positions.

The current Secretary for Security #JohnLee has been appointed as the new chief secretary. He is the city's first top minister with a police background.

Police Commissioner #ChrisTang will become the Secretary for Security. One of his deputies, #RaymondSiu, is promoted to the police chief.

The personnel change was announced by Chief Executive Carrie Lam in Hong Kong and officiated by the State Ministry of the PRC in Beijing.

The "promotion" has stirred up discontent among the public. Many deemed it as a blatant manifestation of a "police state" in Hong Kong.

However, pro-Beijing lawmaker Alice Mak, of the Federation of Trade Unions, said, "If it’s a police state, why not? I don’t think there’s any problem with a police state."

The government's announcement came one day after the police and the Security Bureau had cracked down the city's pro-democracy newspaper #AppleDaily, by forcing the newspaper and related magazine under #NextDigital to close down on June 24, 2021. The police arrested and charged several editors, news commentators and executives under the #NationalSecurityLaw, while the Security Bureau froze the assets of the newspaper and three related companies.

Source: InMedia #Jun25
https://bit.ly/3dvEvE3

#FailedState #PoliticalSuppression
#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
#PoliceState
Next Digital Directors Resign to Protect Staff: "When the freedom of expression has been eroded, no rights can be guaranteed"

#NextDigital is the parent company of #AppleDaily, a pro-democracy newspaper in Hong Kong that has been forced to shut down by the authorities in June 2021.

In the past few months, the Hong Kong police arrested the executives, editors and writers of Apple Daily; and charged the company's former CEO Cheung Kim-hung and Apple Daily editor-in-chief Ryan Law of breaching national security.

On Sunday, September 5, 2021, all four directors of Next Digital including chairman Ip Yut Kin announced their resignation in order to protect shareholders, creditors, employees and former employees.

In the statement, the directors pointed out that an orderly liquidation would serve the best interests of shareholders, creditors, staff and other stakeholders. Since the Hong Kong government has frozen Next Digital assets, the company cannot even pay the salary of their newspaper staff.

The latest statement of Next Digital also pointed out that "the Hong Kong government has never indicated which articles published by Apple Daily allegedly violated the National Security Law."

Next Digital condemned the government for spreading white terror, "This uncertainty created a climate of fear, resulting in many resignations among the remaining staff at the company in Hong Kong."

In closing the statement, the directors thanked all Apple Daily readers for not just their support, but also sharing their values and beliefs.

"You entrusted us with the work of journalism. You know well the free flow of information is key to a free society and a free market."

The statement also warned solemnly, "When the freedom of expression has eroded away, no rights can be guaranteed."

Source: Stand News; RTHK #Sept5

#Conscience #Integrity #MediaLandscape #JimmyLai
After the last paper - What lies ahead of the last generation of reporters who enjoyed freedom of press?

Within seven days, having senior officials arrested, headquarters raided again, assets frozen, Apple Daily Newspaper had suicide thrust upon them in the evening of 23 June 2021. To produce the “Demise of Apple Daily” series, Stand News interviewed more than a dozen veteran journalists of Apple, reviewed what is so special about this newspaper and its importance in Hong Kong’s society. We also wish to project – without Apple Daily, what will Hong Kong look like?

Source: Stand News #Jun25

#AppleDaily #NextDigital #DemiseOfAppleDaily #YauTingLeung #LeungKaLai #ChanKokMing

Author: CHENG Chi-Yu

https://bit.ly/3rvU8B4

https://telegra.ph/Demise-of-Apple-Daily--part-1-After-the-last-paper---What-lies-ahead-of-the-last-generation-of-reporters-who-enjoyed-freedom-of--07-26
NextDigital was unlisted in less than 3 months time due to the Financial Secretary, the Security Bureau, the HKEX, and other organisations and government departments taking actions under the National Security Law.

#NationalSecurityLas #NSL #NextDigital #SecurityBureau #FinancialSecretary #HKEX #GoHKgraphics
#CCP
Crackdown on Stand News is China's First Step in Controlling the World's Narrative, says Former #NextDigital Director

Source: VOA Chinese #Dec30

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#CCP
Crackdown on Stand News is China's First Step in Controlling the World's Narrative, says Former #NextDigital Director

The day after Stand News was forced to shut down by Hong Kong Police, Hong Kong Democracy Council (#HKDC) held a rapid response virtual briefing on December 30, 2021, in which the speakers urged the international community to closely monitor the developing situation.

Not only is freedom of press under attack in Hong Kong, they said, the incident also signifies important future challenges, such as the possibility of China manipulating the world in the future.

The invited speakers were #ThomasKellogg, executive director of the Center for Asian Law at Georgetown University; and #MarkClifford, former independent non-executive director of Next Digital.

As a former director of Next Media, Clifford saw firsthand the government's oppression against Apple Daily, which began even before the National Security Law (#NSL) took effect on June 30, 2020. The crackdown against Stand News had been rumored to be coming for some time; even so, when it finally became reality, Clifford felt it deeply.

"What's happening at Stand News is tragic," Clifford said, "Perhaps not a complete surprise, because we have seen what happened at Apple Daily. It's extraordinary when you're on the other end of state power - unchecked state power. In a city like Hong Kong, it's hard to believe."

The arrests and forced closure of Stand News happened soon after the conclusion of the legislative elections. Hong Kong Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Erick Tsang had twice written to the Wall Street Journal to criticize their reporting of the Hong Kong Elections, even calling its editorials "sickening".

Clifford said that this had not been a coincidence; rather, it reflects the Chinese Communist Party's ambitions to control the world's narrative.

Source: VOA Chinese #Dec30
https://www.voachinese.com/a/experts-analysis-on-hong-kong-standard-news-forced-closure-20211230/6376727.html

Video of the HKDC Rapid Response Virtual Briefing:
https://www.facebook.com/hkdc.us/videos/958932114740331/

#StandNewsCrackdown #NationalSecurityLaw #FreedomOfPress #Media #PoliticalProsecution