HONG KONG — Hong Kong’s pro-democracy tabloid Apple Daily stated it will print its last edition on Thursday, after a turbulent year in which it was robbed by authorities and its magnate owner and other personnel were jailed under a brand-new nationwide security law.
The end of the popular 26-year-old tabloid, which blends pro-democracy discourse with racy celeb chatter and examinations of those in power, has actually intensified alarm over media flexibility and other rights in the Chinese-ruled city.
In a declaration on its site, Next Digital stated the choice to close the paper, which utilizes about 600 reporters, was taken “due to the current circumstances prevailing in Hong Kong.”
Cable TELEVISION and Now TELEVISION reported the paper’s last edition might be released as quickly as Thursday.
Police recently froze properties of business connected to the paper and jailed 5 executives. On Wednesday, it jailed a writer on suspicion of conspiring to conspire with a foreign nation or foreign forces.
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Authorities have actually stated lots of Apple Daily pieces might have broken the security law, the very first circumstances of authorities taking objective at media short articles under the legislation.
Rights groups, media companies and Western federal governments have actually slammed recently’s raid of the Apple Daily newsroom by about 500 officers and seizure of journalistic products on nationwide security premises.
A senior executive at Next Digital stated a lead author for editorials and a press reporter had actually been jailed, without recognizing them. It was uncertain why the press reporter was jailed.
Police, who usually do not divulge the names of those jailed, stated among individuals they had actually apprehended was a 55-year-old guy. An authorities agent stated the department had no instant info on a 2nd arrest.
Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam stated on Tuesday that criticism of recently’s raid and arrests at Apple Daily totaled up to efforts to “beautify” acts that threatened nationwide security.
Apple Daily has actually come under increasing pressure because its magnate owner and staunch Beijing critic, Jimmy Lai, was jailed in 2015 under the controversial legislation. Lai, whose properties have actually likewise been frozen under the security law, is currently serving a jail sentence for participating in unapproved assemblies.
