Hong Kong police raid media headquarters, arrest executive

Western nations decry free-speech crackdown.

Associated Press
Mon, 10 Aug 2020 19:04:45 GMT

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HONG KONG — Hong Kong authorities arrested media tycoon Jimmy Lai on Monday, broadening their enforcement of a new national security law and stoking fears of a crackdown on the semiautonomous region’s free press. Police were seen carting away boxes of what they said was evidence at Mr. Lai’s pro-democracy Next Digital headquarters.

In the evening, police arrested pro-democracy activist Agnes Chow Ting on charges of inciting secession under the same law, according to tweets by fellow activist Nathan Law, who left Hong Kong for Britain soon after the law took effect.

Two days after Chinese and Hong Kong officials shrugged off sanctions imposed on them by the United States, the moves showed China’s determination to enforce the new law and curb dissent in the semiautonomous city after months of massive pro-democracy demonstrations.

The arrest of Mr. Lai, two of his sons, and several company officers and the search of Next Digital marked the first time the law was used against media. Next Digital operates Apple Daily, a pro-democracy tabloid that often condemns China’s Communist Party-led government.

“Raiding a news institution is a severe attack on press freedom and should not be tolerated in a civilized society,” Next Digital said in a statement. “Hong Kong’s press freedom is now hanging by a thread, but our staff will remain fully committed to our duty to defend the freedom of the press.”

Apple Daily’s popularity stems from its celebrity news and flamboyant stories, but it is also known for investigative reporting and breaking news coverage. It has frequently urged readers to take part in pro-democracy protests.

On July 1, it condemned the new national security law on its front page, calling it “the final nail in the coffin” for the “one country, two systems” framework under which the former British colony has been able to enjoy much greater civil liberties than in mainland China since its return to Chinese rule in 1997.

The British government condemned Mr. Lai’s arrest, saying authorities are using the new law to quash dissent.

“This is further evidence that the national security law is being used as a pretext to silence opposition,” said Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s spokesman, James Slack.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a tweet that he was “deeply troubled” by reports of Mr. Lai’s arrest and that it was proof the Chinese Communist Party has “eviscerated Hong Kong’s freedoms and eroded the rights of its people.”

Hong Kong police arrested Mr. Lai on Monday morning, an aide to the businessman said, in the highest-profile detention under the new law since it took effect on June 30. Mr. Lai, 71, is an outspoken pro-democracy figure who regularly criticizes China’s authoritarian rule and Hong Kong’s government.

Hong Kong police said they arrested at least 10 people between the ages of 23 and 72 on suspicion of violating the security law and other offenses. They did not release the names of those arrested or provide further details of the charges.

Mark Simon, a Next Digital executive and Mr. Lai’s aide, said Mr. Lai was charged with collusion with foreign powers. Following Mr. Lai’s arrest, about 200 police raided Next Digital’s headquarters, cordoning off the area, searching desks, and at times getting into heated exchanges with staff. What police were looking for in the building wasn’t clear, although they later said they took away 25 boxes of evidence for processing.

Mr. Lai, who was arrested at his home, was brought to the headquarters of Next Digital, where he remained until police took him away.

Bruce Lui, a senior lecturer in Hong Kong Baptist University’s journalism department, said authorities are making an example of Apple Daily under the new law.

“They’re used as an example to terrify others ... of what can happen if you don’t obey or if you go too far,” Mr. Lui said. “I think other media may make a judgment to censor themselves.”

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