Jimmy Lai started the Apple Daily newspaper in 1995 to defend the Hong Kong way of life before the 1997 handover to China. Its inaugural launch editorial declared: “We are convinced that Hongkongers who are accustomed to freedom will not stay silent in the face of unreasonable restrictions and unfair treatments, for Hongkongers are born with a passion for freedom.” Apple Daily journalists pledged to “stick to our posts and work hard, to be proud Hongkongers through and through.
That was before the Chinese Communist Party last year forced Hong Kong under the boot of its National Security Law, which this week took down Apple Daily. Its crime was being the most popular source of news and opinion focused on Hong Kong values such as the rule of law, free markets and the free flow of information. The newspaper’s demise mirrors the experience of the Hong Kong people as Beijing deploys the National Security Law to exert control over the territory.
As members of the board of Next Digital Ltd. , the publicly traded company that operates Apple Daily, we voted Wednesday to close down the paper after the Hong Kong authorities used the law to freeze the company’s assets without a trial or even a court order. The freeze makes it impossible for the company to pay its staff, buy ink or keep the electricity on.
Hong Kong authorities had already jailed Mr. Lai, who is now serving a 20-month prison term for participating in an assembly that was deemed unlawful. Some 500 armed police raided the Apple Daily offices last week. They arrested Next Digital’s CEO and Apple Daily’s editor in chief and denied bail to both; the chief editorial writer was arrested this week.
The way the authorities undermined the functioning of equity markets, property rights and contracts is a warning for other companies that are publicly traded in Hong Kong or simply doing business there.
Umamaru5 opinion Hong Kong dictatorship destroyed our democracy, freedom, education, justices and human rights But Hong Kong people never give up Let’s fight against China dictatorship StandWithHongKong
HKer20682966 opinion CCP conducting a series of systematic crack down of freedom of press in Hong Kong. They breaching the joint declaration and its now occupying the city illegally. The world must bring China to court to restore Hong Kong autonomy. StandWithHongKong
opinion It shall be closed earlier. It blacked the government and justicial people. It incited the riot which caused Hongkong suffered the serious economy lost.
opinion It is extremely strange. In China, mostly 99.9% trust government and trust that is bullshit from west news and rare crazy guys. But west media blinded its eyes and convince us to trust the bullshits are the truth. Ridiculous.
opinion And Apple Daily is a public listed company on HK Stock Exchange. CCP can arbitrarily freeze your assets and forcefully shut you down only because you dissent with it. Can we still call HK an international financial hub under this circumstance?
ChoiHungGuLeung opinion How evil can the Chinazi Tyranny be? . Hongkonger well knew CCP China & HKPolice HKGov are evil brutal Totalitarianism long ago.. HKer still fighting, For justice, HumanRight & democracy! StandWithHK FreeHK MilkTeaAlliance SOSHK SAVE12 Free47 StandWithHongKong
A Call to Protect People and Nature! T'h'a'c'k'e'r Pass, Nevada, Thread to Watch/read:
Portello16 opinion Now they're coming for Stand News, one of the most popular remaining online news sites.
opinion No one in HK police state can be safe under the NSL. Except CCP of course. Come and do business in HK and have your assets frozen for no reason at all. RuleByLaw
opinion Apple Daily worked for NED. China just want to shut down NED operation in HK.
opinion It's very disturbing how the democrat media (CNN, ABC, AP, NPR, WaPo, NYT) are complicit in disinformation & cover up the true origin of COVID. Our press is no longer a legitimate source for honest reporting. They destroyed themselves from within in an effort to take out Trump
opinion Trump's twitter death at the hands of the US regime is a warning of what can happen to any twitter account in the US. Bear Stearns' death at the hands of the US regime is a warning of what can happen to any company in the US.
opinion Western propaganda coated in Freedom of Press. Stay away from CIA and MI6,
EmmaDaly opinion crovitz
kerokero_HKer opinion crovitz Hongkonger & many Freedom fighters are under HumanitarianCrisis now :( But HKer never surrender! Still fighting for justice, truth & HumanRight & democracy! Dear world, StandWithHK! SOSHK FreeHK LiberateHK CCP_is_terrorist AntiChinazi HongKong HongKongNeedsHelp
opinion crovitz Communist China genocide Ugyhur, Tibet & Hong Kong people. Biological warfare virus to the world. Xi & Communist China is 21st century of Adolf Hitler. Chinazi ChinaMustFall StandWithHongKong
opinion crovitz Any country will do the same
opinion crovitz HongKongers queue to buy Apple Daily final edition
opinion crovitz And a DOJ ready to hand out search warrants to the HK police, taking away things they can claim as 'evidence'
opinion crovitz This should be widely spread and all foriegn companies should be alerted.
opinion crovitz hk has demonstrated that there is no room for democracy and freedom under ccp administration the world should not ignore what is ccp doing to hk 1 country, 2 systems, just kidding StandWithHongKong AppleDaily
opinion crovitz the forced closure of appledaily is a devastating blow to pressfreedom in Hong Kong
opinion crovitz Hong Kong's fate is more than a tragedy. It is a warning to any institution that thinks it can do business with China and come out unscathed.
opinion crovitz Absolutely. CCP shred the Sino-British Joint Declaration blatantly. That mean there are nothing can protect the fundamental rights of everyone. CCP_is_Terrorist HKPoliceState HostageDiplomacy begin.
opinion crovitz Sad😭 Totally political persecution. Further provide that HongKong is RulebyLaw!!! Today is appledaily_hk, Tomorrow will be all HongKongers. No more Freedom in HK now. HK already become the NewBerlin under the NationalSecurityLaw. StandWithHongKong SupportApplyDaily
opinion crovitz This man decide China's business & economy.
opinion crovitz We Are Apple Daily✊✊
opinion crovitz I wish US gov would have the same resolve to combat disinformation media outlets such as Fox News and OAN. Just look at how terribly polarized and brainwashed Americans are…it’s so sad
opinion crovitz Very true. HKGov has ignored all the rules and what made the city a reputable international financial hub. Beijing doesn’t care about the values that build this great city, but just the physical possession of this place.
opinion crovitz A newspaper insists on destroy and ruin the government. Any government will support it?
opinion crovitz By imposing unilaterally the NationalSecurityLaw on HK, China is showing the world how to destroy UniversalValues.China violates the JointDeclaration international agreement. Mandatory dispute resolution procedure should be implemented to enhance the commitment credibility.
opinion crovitz Bullshit
opinion crovitz horrible