Hong Kong Police Arrest 5 Including Apple Daily Editor-in-Chief Over Anti-China Media

Maximum Life Imprisonment for Applying National Division Crime
Jimmy Lai, Owner of Apple Daily, Charged with Violating National Security Law

[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Jo Young-shin] According to Chinese media Pengpai, five senior officials, including the editor-in-chief of the Hong Kong anti-China media Apple Daily, were arrested on the 17th.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Pengpai reported that all Apple Daily officials arrested by Hong Kong police on that day are suspected of violating Article 29 of the Hong Kong National Security Law.

This article applies when colluding with foreign or overseas forces to endanger national security. The Hong Kong National Security Law, enacted on June 30 last year, allows for life imprisonment as the maximum penalty for four crimes: secession, subversion of state power, terrorist activities, and collusion with foreign forces.

In this regard, Hong Kong public broadcaster RTHK reported that around 7 a.m. that day, about 200 police officers raided the Apple Daily headquarters, and editor-in-chief Ryan Law was arrested at his home.

Earlier, in August last year, Hong Kong police arrested Apple Daily owner Jimmy Lai and nine others, including his son, on charges of violating the Hong Kong National Security Law. Lai was sentenced to prison for participating in three illegal assemblies in 2019 and is also charged with violating the Hong Kong National Security Law.

Meanwhile, Next Digital, the holding company of Apple Daily, announced that it would suspend trading of its own shares before the stock market opened that day.