China dismisses concern for Hong Kong freedom after tabloid closure
Send a link to a friend
[June 25, 2021]
By Sharon Abratique and Pak Yiu
HONG KONG (Reuters) -China's foreign
ministry on Friday rejected comments by U.S. President Joe Biden that
the closure of Hong Kong's Apple Daily newspaper signaled intensifying
repression by Beijing in the semi-autonomous city.
Also on Friday, China approved the promotions of two officials in a move
that critics said would further tighten Beijing's grip.
Hong Kong's security secretary John Lee was appointed chief
secretary - the first time a security specialist has taken the number
two position in the territory since its handover from British to Chinese
rule in 1997.
Biden said on Thursday that Apple Daily's demise was a "sad day for
media freedom". Other foreign officials also expressed concern that it
represented a further stifling of freedoms in Hong Kong, a trade gateway
and international financial center.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2021/Jun/25/images/ads/current/stclara_lda_SPONSOR_090519.png)
Apple Daily had been a thorn in Beijing's side, mixing pro-democracy
discourse with celebrity gossip and investigations of those in power. It
was forced to end a 26-year run after authorities froze the company's
funds.
Its closure follows the imposition of a national security law last year
in response to huge pro-democracy protests in 2019.
Hundreds of loyal readers lined up at newsstands across the city to buy
last editions.
"I hope reporters can stay true to their faith and keep working hard,"
said Tse, 60, a former medical worker, as she queued for a paper.
Biden called on Beijing to stop targeting the independent press and to
release detained journalists and media executives.
"People in Hong Kong have the right to freedom of the press. Instead,
Beijing is denying basic liberties and assaulting Hong Kong’s autonomy
and democratic institutions," he said.
Apple Daily had been "a much-needed bastion of independent journalism in
Hong Kong," Biden said in a statement.
"Through arrests, threats, and forcing through a National Security Law
that penalizes free speech, Beijing has insisted on wielding its power
to suppress independent media and silence dissenting views," he said,
vowing continued U.S. support for the people of Hong Kong.
China's foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian dismissed the criticism
at a news conference in Beijing on Friday.
"The U.S. leader's position is factually baseless," Zhao said.
Officials in Hong Kong and China have repeatedly said media freedoms are
respected but not absolute, and cannot endanger national security.
The shutdown deals the most serious blow yet to Hong Kong's media
freedoms and could potentially destroy the city's reputation as a media
hub, advocacy groups say.
U.N. human rights chief Michelle Bachelet on Thursday criticised the
detention of Apple Daily owner Jimmy Lai.
[to top of second column]
|
![](../images/062521pics/news_p29.jpg)
People queue to buy copies of the final edition of Apple Daily,
published by Next Digital, in the Central financial district, in
Hong Kong, China June 24, 2021. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu
![](../images/ads/current/centraldirect_lda_SPONSOR_2021.png)
Speaking to the 2021 Society of Publishers in Asia
press awards ceremony held in Hong Kong, Bachelet said the security
law was leading journalists to self-censor to avoid clashing with
"vaguely formulated offences".
Lai has been in jail since December over unauthorized rallies during
the pro-democracy protests. He is facing three national security
charges, including colluding with a foreign country and is already
serving several sentences for taking part in unauthorized rallies.
British foreign minister Dominic Raab called on China to respect its
commitments to free media under an agreement with Britain over how
Hong Kong would be ruled after 1997.
ONE MILLION COPIES
In anticipation of big demand for its final print run, the Apple
Daily printed one million copies, or more than 10 times its usual.
Some staff expressed anger and frustration.
"(After) today, there is no press freedom in Hong Kong," said
Dickson Ng, 51, a designer at the paper. "I feel very disappointed
and angry."
Last week, 500 officers raided the newspaper's headquarters, sifting
through reporters' notes and other material.
Five executives were arrested, and two - chief editor Ryan Law and
Cheung Kim-hung - were charged with conspiracy to commit collusion
with a foreign country and denied bail. On Wednesday, a columnist
for the paper was arrested under the security law.
In the reshuffle, Police Chief Chris Tang took over John Lee's
position as security secretary following Lee's promotion to chief
secretary.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2021/Jun/25/images/ads/current/farmersbank_lda_HOMETOWNHEROS_2021.png)
Known for his hawkish stance, Lee had spearheaded the city’s
disciplinary forces, including the police, in the crackdown that has
seen mass arrests of democratic activists and politicians.
"The promotion of John Lee and Chris Tang completes the
swift and total transformation of Hong Kong into a police
state," said Samuel Chu of the Hong Kong Democracy Council.
(Reporting By Sharon Abratique and David Brunnstrom in Washington;
Writing by Anne Marie Roantree; Editing by Angus MacSwan)
[© 2021 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2021 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content. |