Hong Kong’s Last Pro-Democracy Newspaper to Shut Down
Forced Closure After Arrests and Asset Freeze
Hong Kong’s sole remaining pro-democracy newspaper will publish its last edition Thursday, forced to shut down after five editors and executives were arrested and millions of dollars in its assets were frozen as part of China’s increasing crackdown on dissent in the semi-autonomous city.
Background
The board of directors of Apple Daily parent company Next Media said in a statement Wednesday that the print and online editions will cease due to “the current circumstances prevailing in Hong Kong.”
China’s Determination to Exert Greater Control
The silencing of a prominent pro-democracy voice is the latest sign of China’s determination to exert greater control over the city long known for its freedoms after huge antigovernment protests there in 2019 shook the government. Since then, Beijing has imposed a strict national security law — used in the arrests of the newspaper employees — and revamped Hong Kong’s election laws to keep opposition voices out of the legislature.
Apple Daily’s History
Apple Daily was founded by tycoon Jimmy Lai in 1995 — just two years before Britain handed Hong Kong back to China — and initially was a tabloid known for its celebrity gossip. But Lai had also always portrayed the paper as an advocate of Western values and said it should “shine a light on snakes, insects, mice and ants in the dark,” according to the paper.
Recent Developments
The paper’s announcement coincided with the start of the city’s first trial under the year-old national security law that is being closely watched as a barometer of how strictly the courts will interpret the legislation.
The widely expected move to close Apple Daily followed last week’s arrests and crucially the freezing of $2.3 million of the paper’s assets. Its board of directors wrote a few days ago to ask Hong Kong’s security bureau to release some of its funds so the company could pay wages — but it’s not clear if it got a response. The paper also said it made the decision to close out of concern for its employees’ safety.
International Reaction
The move against Apple Daily drew criticism from the U.S., the EU and Britain.
“The forced closure of (Apple Daily) by Hong Kong authorities is a chilling demonstration of their campaign to silence all opposition voices,” British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said in a Twitter post. “It is clearer than ever that the (national security law) is being used to curtail freedom and punish dissent.”
Conclusion
The closure of Apple Daily marks a significant blow to press freedom in Hong Kong and a major setback for the city’s pro-democracy movement. As the national security law continues to be enforced, it remains to be seen how the city’s media and civil society will adapt to the new reality.
FAQs
Q: Why is Apple Daily closing?
A: Apple Daily is closing due to the arrest of five editors and executives and the freezing of $2.3 million of its assets under the national security law.
Q: What is the national security law?
A: The national security law is a law imposed by China that criminalizes subversion, secession, terrorism, and foreign collusion. It has been used to silence opposition voices in Hong Kong.
Q: What is the impact of the national security law on Hong Kong’s media?
A: The national security law has had a significant impact on Hong Kong’s media, with many outlets self-censoring and some being forced to close. Apple Daily is the last remaining pro-democracy newspaper in the city.
Q: What is the reaction of international governments to the closure of Apple Daily?
A: International governments, including the U.S., the EU, and Britain, have criticized the closure of Apple Daily and the enforcement of the national security law in Hong Kong.
Q: What is the future of press freedom in Hong Kong?
A: The future of press freedom in Hong Kong is uncertain, with many fearing that the national security law will continue to be used to silence opposition voices and suppress dissent.
FILE – In this Friday, June 18, 2021, file photo, people buy the Apple Daily news paper at a stand in downtown Hong Kong. Hong Kong’s pro-democracy Apple Daily newspaper will close by this weekend, its parent company said Wednesday, June 23, 2021, following last week’s arrest of five editors and executives and the freezing of $2.3 million in assets under the city’s national security law. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu, File)