Police accuse five of “collusion with foreign forces” in the latest wave of arrests under national security law, with dozens of officers sent to the media group’s headquarters.
Hong Kong police on Thursday arrested the editor-in-chief of the Apple Daily, the media group founded by jailed pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai, and four other executives for alleged crimes against national security, as dozens of police officers agents blocked access to the headquarters of the Hong Kong media group,
Apple Daily said five of its directors, including editor-in-chief Ryan Law, chief executive Cheung Kim-hung, chief operating officer Chow Tat-kuen, deputy chief executive Chan Puiman and chief executive Cheung Chi-wai had been arrested in the morning raids.
He is accused of “collaborating with foreign forces.”
“Reports published in the newspaper allegedly constituted the crime under national security law,” the South China Morning Post was quoted as saying by an unnamed police source.
Local media said police arrived at the media group’s headquarters around 7am (23:00 GMT on Wednesday) with orders to search the premises.
Entrances and exits to the venue were blocked and the police force’s official Facebook page showed a live broadcast of events with journalists gathered outside.
“Police are conducting law enforcement operations in the Tseung Kwan O industrial zone,” he said.
Apple Daily reporters, who said police only allowed them to go to the canteen, were also live for the raid.
China enacted national security law nearly a year ago, after the semi-autonomous city was rocked by months of sometimes violent protests in 2019. The law, which has a widespread text, criminalizes acts such as the subversion, sedition, collusion with foreign forces, and secession with possible perpetual imprisonment. , but critics have said it is used to suppress legitimate political debate with dozens of pro-democracy politicians and activists arrested.
Lai was arrested last August when also police he stormed the headquarters of the media group. The 73-year-old had imprisoned in December after a court denied him bail. He faces three charges under the security law, including collaborating with a foreign power.
Last month, authorities used the security law to impose one freeze Lai’s assets.