Pro-Beijing loyalists warn HK journalists not to ‘cross the limits’ of press freedom - Apple Daily closes after key executives arrest - June 19

[Emily]

https://en.appledaily.com/pro-beijin...MKZRYWJGKYLZ4/
Pro-Beijing loyalists warn HK journalists not to ‘cross the limits’ of press freedom

9 hours ago

Hong Kong journalists can only carry out their duties within the limits of the national security law, Beijing loyalists in the city said a day after multiple executives and journalists were arrested during a raid on Apple Daily headquarters.

About 500 officers searched the Tseung Kwan O offices of the tabloid newspaper on Thursday, arresting three business executives and two senior journalists on suspicion of violating the national security law.

Journalists were forced out of the premises during the raid, with officials describing it as a “crime scene”. But the operation sparked outcry in the international community, with critics seeing this as another crackdown on the city’s freedom of the press.
...
A large number of items were confiscated during the police raid on Thursday, including computers and journalistic materials. Poon Pak-lam, of the Next Media Trade Union, feared that the arrests have sent a chilling effect across the media and may deter people from exposing wrongdoings as journalistic work is under attack.

“I never thought it’d become so difficult to be a journalist and print a newspaper now. Being a reporter has never been like this,” he said...

 

[sharon sanders]

bump this

 

[Pathfinder]

Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian's Regular Press Conference on June 18, 2021
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Reuters: The US on Thursday strongly condemned the arrest of five executives from the tabloid Apple Daily in Hong Kong. The State Department said "We strongly condemn the arrest of five senior executives from Apple Daily and its parent company… and we call for their immediate release." What's the Chinese side's comment on this?

Zhao Lijian: You may have noticed that the HKSAR government, the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in HKSAR and the Office for Safeguarding National Security of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR responded to the relevant issue already. China's Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the HKSAR also refuted the false accusations of certain foreign officials and made clarifications. I would like to stress three points:

First, Hong Kong is a society with rule of law where everyone is equal before the law. No one has extrajudicial privileges and no organization is beyond the reach of law. No right or freedom, including that of press, can cross the line of national security. We firmly support the HKSAR government and police in fulfilling their duty in accordance with law and all efforts to safeguard national security and prosperity and stability in Hong Kong.

Second, the Law on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong SAR focuses on cracking down on a handful of anti-China, destabilizing forces who seriously endanger national security. The law also protects the rights and freedoms enjoyed by the vast majority of Hong Kong residents in accordance with the law, including freedom of speech. Since the implementation of the national security Law, social stability has been restored in Hong Kong, the rule of law and justice have been upheld, and the lawful rights and freedoms of Hong Kong residents and foreign citizens in Hong Kong are better protected in a safer environment. This is an undeniable fact.

Third, Hong Kong is part of China. Hong Kong affairs fall entirely within China's internal affairs that no country, organization or individual has the right to interfere. We urge individual foreign politicians to set aside the arrogance and prejudice, abandon the double standards, earnestly respect law enforcement by the HKSAR, respect the aspiration of the Hong Kong citizens for stable social order and normal life, respect the fact that Hong Kong is a special administrative region of China, and respect international law and the basic norm in international relations of not interfering in the internal affairs of other countries.
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Bloomberg News: Just a follow-up on the question of Apple Daily. You said that only a handful of disrupters are targeted by the national security law. Is that what you think of the executives of Apple Daily? Are they disrupting the social stability of Hong Kong?

Zhao Lijian: I just gave a clear elaboration on our position. The case is based on clear facts and conclusive evidence. It is not about freedom of press.
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https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/mfa_eng/xwfw_665399/s2510_665401/2511_665403/t1884959.shtml

 

[Emily]

https://news.yahoo.com/apple-daily-hong-kong-police-103849081.html
Apple Daily: Hong Kong police raid sparks rush on newspapers

Sat, June 19, 2021, 12:30 AM·4 min read
People in Hong Kong have queued up to buy copies of the pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily a day after its newsroom was raided by police.

The front page carried a message of defiance, reading: "We must press on."

The paper typically prints about 80,000 copies but increased that to 500,000 to meet demand. Some news stands sold out.

The raid on the newspaper came as two of its executives were charged under Hong Kong's controversial new national security law...

 

[sharon sanders]

On a mainland China newspaper plus a few comments posted there.....

News! Hong Kong Media: Next Media’s board of directors has decided to stop operating "Apple Daily" and China News


2021-06-21 16:51:54


[Global News Express] According to news from Hong Kong’s “East Net”, Next Media’s board of directors has decided to stop operating the "Apple Daily" newspaper and Apple News , and will discuss a specific date for the suspension on Friday (25th).

"Dongwang" said that the board of directors of Next Media has reached a consensus that if the assets are not unblocked and the company lacks funds to operate, the news will stop updating at 11:59 pm on the 25th, and the 26th will be the last day of the "Apple Daily". , It will stop functioning afterwards.
The Hong Kong Security Bureau recently quoted the provisions of the implementation rules of the Hong Kong National Security Law to freeze the assets of three companies related to Apple Daily, involving 18 million Hong Kong dollar.

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[Shiloh]

Source: https://asiatimes.com/2021/06/death-knell-tolls-for-hks-apple-daily/

Death knell tolls for HK’s Apple Daily
Staff told last edition will be on Saturday unless authorities unfreeze assets so salaries can be paid
by Jeff Pao June 21, 2021

Pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily and its online edition could cease operations on Saturday if the Hong Kong authorities refuse to release part of its frozen assets to pay its staff.

Apple Daily’s employees received an internal memo on Monday that if the funds were not forthcoming, no articles would be uploaded to the media outlet’s digital platforms after 11.59 pm on Friday. They were told that as the last newspaper would come out on Saturday morning, they could choose to resign now and skip a notice period.

The outspoken publication’s closure would further undermine the former British colony’s reputation as an open and democratic society and send a stark warning to companies that could be vaguely and arbitrarily accused of “colluding” with a foreign country, media and press freedom advocacy groups said...

 

[Pathfinder]

June 23, 2021
9:10 AM CST

Last Updated 41 minutes ago
Asia Pacific

Hong Kong pro-democracy paper Apple Daily to print last edition on Thursday

Jessie Pang
...
HONG KONG, June 23 (Reuters) - Hong Kong's most vocal pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily said it will print its last edition on Thursday after a stormy year in which it was raided by police and its tycoon owner and other staff were arrested under a new national security law.

The closure of the popular tabloid, which mixes pro-democracy views with celebrity gossip and investigations of those in power, marks the end of an era for media freedom in the Chinese-ruled city, critics say.

"Thank you to all readers, subscribers, ad clients and Hong Kongers for 26 years of immense love and support. Here we say goodbye, take care of yourselves," Apple Daily said in an online article.
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Apple Daily, which is published by Next Digital (0282.HK) and employs hundreds of journalists, said in its online article that the decision to close was "based on employee safety and manpower considerations".

Since being raided by police, the newspaper has suffered mass resignations and entire departments had to close.
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Apple Daily, whose online version will stop updating, said it expected to print one million copies on Thursday.
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https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-...olumnist-under-security-law-media-2021-06-23/

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Dear readers

2021.06.22

This concludes the updates from Apple Daily English. Thank you for your support.
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https://en.appledaily.com/dear-readers/36KLRD6FW5HQTMKAWUHBBE5VEQ
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[etudiant]

In this country, controversial opinions are simply blocked by Facebook and the like. No need to arrest anybody to silence them, just muffle their voice by restricting their audience.
The Chinese clearly prefer more direct measures, perhaps because they are rightly terrified of civil unrest. Their last civil war only ended in 1949.
Imho the efforts to polish the halo of the CCP as it comes to its 100th anniversary is completely in line with this objective, persuade the people that all is well in China, irrespective of actuality.
My guess is that if they could report negative Covid numbers, they would.