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.
“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.
“We are concerned by increased efforts by authorities to wield the national security laws of tools suppress independent media to silence dissenting views and to stifle freedom of expression.”
“We call on authorities to stop targeting the independent and free media,” he added. “Efforts to stifle media freedom and to restrict the free flow of information not only undermine Hong Kong’s democratic institutions, but they also hurt Hong Kong’s credibility and viability as an international hub.”
The newspaper’s publication of viewpoints from overseas apparently triggered the arrests.
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The 1984 declaration laid the groundwork for the city’s handover from Britain to China in 1997. It stated that the basic policies regarding Hong Kong would remain unchanged for 50 years, including the promise the city would retain a high degree of autonomy.
The arrests of some of the newspaper’s top editors and publishers “undermine Beijing’s obligations their own obligations under the Sino-British Joint Declaration, which is a binding international agreement to uphold Hong Kong’s quote high degree of autonomy and protected rights and freedoms”, Price said.