On Monday, the Hong Kong police have raided the Next Digital Media offices and arrested the Hong Kong Media Tycoon Jimmy Lai.
Lai (71) was arrested under the newly introduced Chinese controversial National Security Law on June 1, 2020. According to the Apple Daily’s senior executive, Mark Simon who is also Lai’s successor said that around 200 police entered the office and created havoc before arresting Lai.
After his arrest Lai said
I have always thought I might one day be sent to jail for my publications or for my calls for democracy in Hong Kong,
But for a few tweets, and because they are said to threaten the national security of mighty China? That’s a new one, even for me,
Simon also expressed concern that these type of actions by the Hong Kong police is only to ensure that no media express their opinions against mainland China. This is, in fact, suppressing media freedom.
Apple Daily established the Next Digital Media in the year 1995 which is popular among the Hong Kong citizens. The media is known for publishing news against the Hong Kong government’s as well as China’s anti-democratic policies.
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Along with Lai, 7 other people were arrested by the Hong Kong police in connection to the media. The arrested include Lai’s son. All these people are charged with offences like collusion with a foreign country and links with terrorists.
However, the statement issued by the Hong Kong police did not reveal the names of the arrested people. Further, the police even did not rule out of arrests continuity.
Many countries like the US and the UK have feared that the new national security law imposed by China will lead to such actions in Hong Kong. They have openly expressed concerns of Chinese actions. Following them, many countries have expressed their concerns over the newly implemented national security law.