LN9267, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Summary 

• The largest Democratic news source in Hong Kong announced its shut down on Wednesday, following alleged breaking of national security laws, in order to maintain employee “safety.” 
• The Apple Daily Management operated in Hong Kong for over 20 years, being the largest critic of leadership and anti-government news source providing political analyses as well as celebrity gossip and scandals. 
• The paper was also a strong supporter of the 2019 anti-government protests in Hong Kong, again becoming a target of the government which attempted to stop the resistance it faced. 
• The national security law which was breached came into play just last year after these protests, making “secession, subversion and collusion with foreign forces with the maximum sentence life in prison” illegal and being the cause of more than 100 arrests since June. 
• In the ongoing attempt to lessen criticism, Apple Daily’s accounts were frozen, offices raided, and top editors taken into custody, including the founder Jimmy Lai, after undermining the government. 
• Apple Daily released a final statement, saying “Even if the ending is not what we want, even if it’s difficult to let go, we need to continue living and keep the determination we have shared with Hong Kong people that has remained unchanged over 26 years.” 
• Government representative Ronny Tong claimed the paper’s shutdown was all a “political stunt,” stating to BBC, “People around the world probably will accuse the Hong Kong government of forcing Apple Daily to close down. But the fact of the matter is, they don’t need to.”
• However, many international powers voice concern over the closure of the news website, stating fears of the law’s power to stop any dissent from arising. 
• The last tangible copy will be printed on Thursday, and the online version will no longer be updated. Next digital thanked readers and journalists for their “loyal support over the years,” as supporters gathered outside the office to flash lit cellphones in solidarity. 

Sources

https://apnews.com/article/hong-kong-trials-45ac5f77462ecd0e4971c3bc099a587d

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/23/world/asia/apple-daily-hong-kong.html

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-57578926

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