Hong Kong Apple Daily’s online sister to live on in Taiwan
- Nearly 500 people are employed by the digital news outlet on the island, which is financially independent, the company said
- Staff representative ‘regrets’ Hong Kong closure but says Taiwanese operation will continue as usual
In a statement issued on Thursday morning, Apple Online said the tabloid had set numerous records in Hong Kong and Taiwan, and adjusted its operation in line with the changing environment in both markets over the years. “But due to circumstances beyond [our] control, Apple Daily (Hong Kong) had to issue its last edition on June 24, which had prompted reader concerns.”
The statement stressed the digital offering would continue to live on in Taiwan, unaffected by the closure of its Hong Kong operation, saying all affiliated companies of parent company Next Digital were financially independent.
06:28
Hong Kong tabloid Apple Daily ceases operations after top executives arrested, assets frozen
Apple Online called for continued support from readers, saying its nearly 500 employees in Taiwan would work harder to make the digital media outlet thrive.
The Taiwan edition of Apple Daily ceased publication on May 18, due to financial pressures, but the online version has remained operational.
“We will continue our business as usual,” said Chen Chia-en, secretary general of the Apple Online trade union.
Chen said he felt regret about the closure of the Hong Kong operation. He declined to comment when asked if some of the outlet’s Hong Kong staff would join the Taiwan network to continue reporting from Hong Kong, saying it was a decision for management.
“With the closure of Apple Daily [in the city], Hong Kong will lose another voice by one of its largest media outlets in promoting and upholding freedom and democracy, and this is not in the interest of the general public there,” he said.
02:32
Apple Daily editor-in-chief, 4 newspaper directors arrested under Hong Kong national security law
A Taiwan employee of the outlet said what the Hong Kong authorities had done could not cover up all the “dirty tricks” they wanted to hide, given the easy availability and accessibility of the internet worldwide.
“I don’t think Hong Kong authorities are able to wipe out everything. Even though they have silenced our voices in Hong Kong, the spirit of Apple Daily to promote the true voices of the public as well as news freedom will continue to be upheld in Taiwan,” the employee said.
Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council, the island’s top mainland policy planner, criticised the Hong Kong authorities for deploying the national security law to shut down the newspaper.
“This rings the knell of freedom of news, publications and opinions in Hong Kong,” it said in a statement, adding such a political witch hunt would only be condemned by international society.
Johnny Chiang, chairman of the main opposition Kuomintang party, said the existence of a news media outlet should be decided by readers and the general public, rather than political authorities.
“While traditional news media outlets have already faced financial difficulty in business operations, it is regrettable that Apple Daily in Hong Kong had to shut down because of political interference,” he said.
