Hong Kong police have arrested a former Apple Daily reporter at the airport | Freedom of the Press

Fung Wai-kong’s arrest comes at a time when the pro-democracy party Stand News is refusing to raise funds amid concerns over national security laws.

Police in Hong Kong have arrested a former journalist and Apple Daily, who are now detained at the airport on Sunday night in a case of serious national security concerns, according to local journalists.

Police, who did not name the detainees, said in a statement that a 57-year-old man had been arrested at the airport for “attempts to negotiate with foreign countries or foreign groups to undermine national security”.

They added that they had been arrested and that investigations were ongoing.

The South China Morning Post and Citizen News reported that the prison was made by Fung Wai-kong, an editor and journalist on a now democratically closed democratic party.

He believed he was going to the United Kingdom after his arrest, he said.

Fung is the seventh member of the pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily to be arrested on national security charges in recent weeks. The arrests come as Hong Kong authorities seize terrorists in an independent city, detain many prominent figures in democracy and review Hong Kong’s electoral laws to prevent protests from escalating in parliament.

Earlier this month, authorities suspended $ 2.3m worth of assets linked to Apple Daily, forcing to end work. Apple Daily printed His last press release last week, citing employee safety and failure to pay.

Hong Kong officials say most of the documentation may have violated China’s national security law, the first time that officials have monitored the media in accordance with the law.

The Hong Kong Press Council, in response to reports of airport arrest, has criticized the police for redirecting journalists, and asked them to report the incident.

“HKJA reiterates that freedom of speech and freedom of the press are paramount in Hong Kong,” it said in a statement. “While the registration of pre-registered individuals will not be allowed, it will be difficult for Hong Kong to be considered a global city.”

The closure of Apple Daily and the arrest of its journalists has caused problems in the media industry in Hong Kong.

The online news website Stand News said in a statement on Sunday that it had deleted comments posted on its pre-June page and suspended its efforts to raise funds due to concerns over the country’s defense law.

This was done to protect advertisers, writers and editors in Hong Kong, “Stand News said in a statement.

Despite the protections, Stand News promised to continue publishing the story.

“Over the past six and a half years, the Stand News group has been experiencing trials and difficulties with the people of Hong Kong, loving each other and remembering the survival of Hong Kong,” it said in a statement.

“To help us remember this, we stick to our notes, travel with the people of Hong Kong … and write and write stories and what is happening in Hong Kong.”