Hong Kong police have called for a security law to arrest senior journalists

Hong Kong police have arrested senior editors and editors of Jimmy Lai’s newspaper who used democracy in their first use of the country’s security law against journalists.

Apple Daily reported that at least 100 police officers stormed their offices early Thursday, ordering journalists who arrived to work to register their names and bar them from filming or going to their desks. Instead, journalists were told to gather on the other side of the building.

Police said the shooting required “evidence of a case suspected of violating the National Security Law”. They used a search warrant and confiscated their records.

China enacted a new security law about a year ago to end tensions following Hong Kong’s anti-government protests in 2019.

The law has opened the way for a struggle on the city’s rights, with arrests of politicians and shooting anyone who appears to be unfaithful in Beijing, such as teachers and judges.

While Thursday’s arrest was not the first moving journalists In the face of opposition, it was the first time that government officials have enacted a defense law against journalists.

The security law, which punishes crimes such as oppression and xenophobia, carries a maximum penalty for life imprisonment.

Lai has already been He was arrested at another prison it’s his goods stored, including 71% of shareholders in Next Media, a company owned by Apple Daily.

Arrested Thursday is Ryan Law, editor-in-chief of Apple Daily and Nick Cheung, an online editor, according to the newspaper. Cheung Kim-hung, Next Digital chief executive, Royston Chow, chief operating officer, and Chan Pui-man, fellow publishers, were also arrested.

Police say they have “arrested five executives of the company” in accordance with the security law “on the basis of foreign cooperation or with foreign factors that could undermine national security”.

Hong Kong police chief Chris Tang has announced a crackdown on journalists “False” rules that journalists fear giving authorities the power to increase police presence.

He chose Apple Daily, a popular tabloid known for its determination to fight government criticism, as a goal that the police could add to. The newspaper was attacked in August last year.

Opponents say the security law violates human rights such as the right to express what Hong Konger promised when China gained the UK in 1997.

A reporter at Next Media said staff were “mentally ready” for the editors to be arrested, but were surprised by the growing number of police officers. “It violates the rights of journalists,” he told the Financial Times.

“I would be very worried about the people of Hong Kong if Apple Daily was lost. . . Some newspapers will be too scared to cover difficult articles. ”

Despite the risks and economic uncertainties experienced as a result of Lai’s economic slowdown, the newspaper has promised to continue publishing.

Next Digital announced a commercial split Thursday.