Joe Biden administration condemns Hong Kong’s arrest of Apple Daily executives
- ‘Efforts to stifle media freedom and to restrict the free flow of information … hurt Hong Kong’s credibility and viability as an international hub’
- US State Department says the arrests are a violation of the Sino-British Joint Declaration
After determining that the publication of articles supporting sanctions against Hong Kong constituted a national security crime, police raided the homes of editor-in-chief Ryan Law Wai-kwong; associate publisher Chan Pui-man; digital director Cheung Chi-wai; the publisher of Apple Daily and CEO of parent company Next Digital, Cheung Kim-hung; and the group’s chief financial officer, Royston Chow Tat-kuen.
Authorities also froze HK$18 million (US$2.32 million) worth of assets of three companies affiliated with the newspaper.
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Apple Daily editor-in-chief, 4 newspaper directors arrested under Hong Kong national security law
“We deplore the reported assertion by a Hong Kong police official that articles published in Apple Daily are evidence of what they call the quote conspiracy to collude with foreign forces, as we all know exchanging views with foreigners in journalism should never be a crime,” Price said.