Forwarded from 📡Guardians of Hong Kong
#WhiteTerror #FrozenAsset
#Reuters: HK’s Pro-democracy Newspaper #AppleDaily to shut within days according to #JimmyLai adviser
//Hong Kong pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily will be forced to shut “in a matter of days” after authorities froze the company’s assets under a national security law, Mark Simon, an adviser to jailed owner Jimmy Lai told Reuters on June 21, 2021.
The closure of Apple Daily would undermine the former British colony's reputation as an open and free society and send a warning to other companies that could be accused of colluding with a foreign country, media advocacy groups said.
Next Digital (0282.HK), publisher of the top-selling 26-year-old newspaper, would hold a board meeting on Monday [June 21, 2021] to discuss how to move forward after its lines of credit were frozen, the adviser, Mark Simon, said.
"Vendors tried to put money into our accounts and were rejected," he said by phone from the United States.
"We thought we'd be able to make it to the end of the month. It's just getting harder and harder. It's essentially a matter of days."
Apple Daily said on Sunday the freezing of its assets had left the liberal newspaper with cash for “a few weeks” for normal operations.”
In May, Reuters reported exclusively that Hong Kong's security chief had sent letters to tycoon Lai and branches of HSBC and Citibank threatening up to seven years' jail for any dealings with the billionaire's accounts in the city...
Authorities are also prosecuting three companies related to Apple Daily for alleged collusion with a foreign country and have frozen HK$18 million ($2.3 million) of their assets...
Simon told Reuters it had now become impossible to conduct banking operations in the global financial hub.
"We can't bank. Some vendors tried to do that as a favour ... and it was rejected."
The newspaper has come under increasing pressure since owner and Beijing critic Lai, who is now in jail, was arrested under the national security law last August and has since had some of his assets frozen...
Simon said some reporters had received threatening phone calls from unknown sources.
"Our staff are now just worried about personal safety," he said...//
Read full article:
https://www.reuters.com/business/retail-consumer/exclusive-adviser-jailed-hk-tycoon-jimmy-lai-says-apple-daily-shut-within-days-2021-06-21/
Source: Reuters #Jun21
#PoliceState #NationalSecurityLaw #PressFreedom #HongKongMedia #Journalism #PoliticalSuppression #MarkSimon #FreeJimmy
====
Related stories:
[June 17, 2021] HK Police Raids Apple Daily Again and Arrests 3 Editors and 2 Executives
https://publielectoral.lat/guardiansofhongkong/30130
"We Will Press On": Apple Daily Prints 500,000 Copies Despite Police Raid
https://publielectoral.lat/guardiansofhongkong/30142
Hongkongers Rush to Support Apple Daily After Midnight
https://publielectoral.lat/guardiansofhongkong/30140
[June 18, 2021] HK Police Charges Apple Daily Editor-in-chief and #NextDigital CEO with #NationalSecurityLaw
https://publielectoral.lat/guardiansofhongkong/30149
#Reuters: HK’s Pro-democracy Newspaper #AppleDaily to shut within days according to #JimmyLai adviser
//Hong Kong pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily will be forced to shut “in a matter of days” after authorities froze the company’s assets under a national security law, Mark Simon, an adviser to jailed owner Jimmy Lai told Reuters on June 21, 2021.
The closure of Apple Daily would undermine the former British colony's reputation as an open and free society and send a warning to other companies that could be accused of colluding with a foreign country, media advocacy groups said.
Next Digital (0282.HK), publisher of the top-selling 26-year-old newspaper, would hold a board meeting on Monday [June 21, 2021] to discuss how to move forward after its lines of credit were frozen, the adviser, Mark Simon, said.
"Vendors tried to put money into our accounts and were rejected," he said by phone from the United States.
"We thought we'd be able to make it to the end of the month. It's just getting harder and harder. It's essentially a matter of days."
Apple Daily said on Sunday the freezing of its assets had left the liberal newspaper with cash for “a few weeks” for normal operations.”
In May, Reuters reported exclusively that Hong Kong's security chief had sent letters to tycoon Lai and branches of HSBC and Citibank threatening up to seven years' jail for any dealings with the billionaire's accounts in the city...
Authorities are also prosecuting three companies related to Apple Daily for alleged collusion with a foreign country and have frozen HK$18 million ($2.3 million) of their assets...
Simon told Reuters it had now become impossible to conduct banking operations in the global financial hub.
"We can't bank. Some vendors tried to do that as a favour ... and it was rejected."
The newspaper has come under increasing pressure since owner and Beijing critic Lai, who is now in jail, was arrested under the national security law last August and has since had some of his assets frozen...
Simon said some reporters had received threatening phone calls from unknown sources.
"Our staff are now just worried about personal safety," he said...//
Read full article:
https://www.reuters.com/business/retail-consumer/exclusive-adviser-jailed-hk-tycoon-jimmy-lai-says-apple-daily-shut-within-days-2021-06-21/
Source: Reuters #Jun21
#PoliceState #NationalSecurityLaw #PressFreedom #HongKongMedia #Journalism #PoliticalSuppression #MarkSimon #FreeJimmy
====
Related stories:
[June 17, 2021] HK Police Raids Apple Daily Again and Arrests 3 Editors and 2 Executives
https://publielectoral.lat/guardiansofhongkong/30130
"We Will Press On": Apple Daily Prints 500,000 Copies Despite Police Raid
https://publielectoral.lat/guardiansofhongkong/30142
Hongkongers Rush to Support Apple Daily After Midnight
https://publielectoral.lat/guardiansofhongkong/30140
[June 18, 2021] HK Police Charges Apple Daily Editor-in-chief and #NextDigital CEO with #NationalSecurityLaw
https://publielectoral.lat/guardiansofhongkong/30149
Reuters
EXCLUSIVE HK’s Apple Daily to shut within days, says Jimmy Lai adviser
Hong Kong pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily will be forced to shut "in a matter of days" after authorities froze the company's assets under a national security law, an adviser to jailed owner Jimmy Lai told Reuters on Monday.
Forwarded from 📡Guardians of Hong Kong
#SupportAppleDaily #NeverGiveUp
News Anchor Wishes Hongkongers Safe on the Last Night of the #AppleDaily News Broadcast
The parent company of the pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily, #NextDigital, held a board meeting on June 21, 2021 to decide the fate of the newspaper in the face of the Hong Kong government's suppression.
The board past the motion of sending a letter to the Secretary for Security, #JohnLee Ka-chiu to demand a reply on Friday, June 25, 2021--the company asked whether part of the Apple Daily’s funds can be unfrozen for salary payment.
According to sources, many Apple Daily’s employees expect Saturday, June 26, 2021 to be the last publishing day of Apple Daily. There is also sayings that the newsaper could be shut down as soon as on Wednesday.
As for the “21:30 Apple Daily News Broadcast”, it had its last screening on the evening of June 21. The headline inquired the whereabouts of Next Digital.
At the end of the programme, anchor #TseHingYi said that it is a hard way forward and wished everyone safe and sound.
Tse also sent a message to all media workers in Hong Kong, encouraging them to hang on and stand strong.
“Even though our platform is disappearing, Hong Kong journalists will hold onto their posts and defend the truth,” said Tse.
Watch the video here:
https://youtu.be/BsvcMNoGHqQ
Source: Stand News; InMedia; Apple Daily #Jun21
https://bit.ly/3gRQMTU
====
Related News:
Arrests, National Security Charges and Frozen Assets: Apple Daily Might Shut Down in 5 Days
https://publielectoral.lat/guardiansofhongkong/30172
Voices are Disappearing in Face of "Stability and Prosperity"
https://publielectoral.lat/guardiansofhongkong/30175
News Anchor Wishes Hongkongers Safe on the Last Night of the #AppleDaily News Broadcast
The parent company of the pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily, #NextDigital, held a board meeting on June 21, 2021 to decide the fate of the newspaper in the face of the Hong Kong government's suppression.
The board past the motion of sending a letter to the Secretary for Security, #JohnLee Ka-chiu to demand a reply on Friday, June 25, 2021--the company asked whether part of the Apple Daily’s funds can be unfrozen for salary payment.
According to sources, many Apple Daily’s employees expect Saturday, June 26, 2021 to be the last publishing day of Apple Daily. There is also sayings that the newsaper could be shut down as soon as on Wednesday.
As for the “21:30 Apple Daily News Broadcast”, it had its last screening on the evening of June 21. The headline inquired the whereabouts of Next Digital.
At the end of the programme, anchor #TseHingYi said that it is a hard way forward and wished everyone safe and sound.
Tse also sent a message to all media workers in Hong Kong, encouraging them to hang on and stand strong.
“Even though our platform is disappearing, Hong Kong journalists will hold onto their posts and defend the truth,” said Tse.
Watch the video here:
https://youtu.be/BsvcMNoGHqQ
Source: Stand News; InMedia; Apple Daily #Jun21
https://bit.ly/3gRQMTU
====
Related News:
Arrests, National Security Charges and Frozen Assets: Apple Daily Might Shut Down in 5 Days
https://publielectoral.lat/guardiansofhongkong/30172
Voices are Disappearing in Face of "Stability and Prosperity"
https://publielectoral.lat/guardiansofhongkong/30175
Forwarded from 📡Guardians of Hong Kong
#OpinionArticle #SaveAppleDaily
Former Apple Daily Staff Bids Farewell to the Newspaper
[Editor's note: The following was written by veteran media worker Terry Yeung, who used to work at Apple Daily and is now publishing regularly on different social media platforms. Yeung recounted his visit to the Apple Daily office after learning the news of the newspaper's forced closure on June 21, 2021]
"After receiving the news, I broke into tears during a meeting. I bought some cakes and hurried back to my 'old home'.
I left Next Digital for some time, but this place is always my alma mater.
Entering through the gate, I bumped into Ms S, who hired me seven years ago. She took me in and let a dumb kid have his first taste in the media industry.
I just took this photo with a banner that writes “Great Work, colleagues!”. It was hanged on the second floor, visible from the lobby.
Ms C of Finance News rushed over for a hug. Her eyes were all red.
Ms F and Mr. H from the same team patted me on the shoulder. The silence said all.
I visited the 'Apple Seed' team and greeted Ms I, who was burying herself in work in order to make sure every colleague is well.
Animal News reporter Ms A hugged me as soon as she saw me. We have known each other for seven years.
I ran into Manager B, a very good friend of mine. We used to go buy siu mei at the Canteen on the fifth floor together.
The cashier screamed when she spotted me. Another familar face from the canteen cried out: “Why are you coming back? Are you paying me a visiting?”
Some former colleagues were taking group photos in the lobby, while some others were still busy in meetings as usual.
If there is still Apply Daily tomorrow, there are articles to be written and printed.
This is the daily routine in Next Digital--things got to be done. It is a sad moment, but there is no time to be immersed in sadness.
Today, many people cried while hugging me. After that, they continued to write articles and work in silence.
As long as Apple Daily is still here, there are news to be published.
The office of Mr. Cheung Kim-hung is vacant.
The seat of Mr. Lai Chee-ying is empty.
The staff of the newspaper vow to work until the end, until they can report news no more.
It is my honour to have been a part of Apple Daily."
Source: Terry’s Lazy Class #Jun21
https://www.facebook.com/108102623935984/posts/529270185152557/
#PoliceState #NationalSecurityLaw #PressFreedom #HongKongMedia #Journalism #FreeJimmy #SaveAppleDaily
====
Related News:
Arrests, National Security Charges and Frozen Assets: Apple Daily Might Shut Down in 5 Days
https://publielectoral.lat/guardiansofhongkong/30172
Voices are Disappearing in Face of "Stability and Prosperity"
https://publielectoral.lat/guardiansofhongkong/30175
Former Apple Daily Staff Bids Farewell to the Newspaper
[Editor's note: The following was written by veteran media worker Terry Yeung, who used to work at Apple Daily and is now publishing regularly on different social media platforms. Yeung recounted his visit to the Apple Daily office after learning the news of the newspaper's forced closure on June 21, 2021]
"After receiving the news, I broke into tears during a meeting. I bought some cakes and hurried back to my 'old home'.
I left Next Digital for some time, but this place is always my alma mater.
Entering through the gate, I bumped into Ms S, who hired me seven years ago. She took me in and let a dumb kid have his first taste in the media industry.
I just took this photo with a banner that writes “Great Work, colleagues!”. It was hanged on the second floor, visible from the lobby.
Ms C of Finance News rushed over for a hug. Her eyes were all red.
Ms F and Mr. H from the same team patted me on the shoulder. The silence said all.
I visited the 'Apple Seed' team and greeted Ms I, who was burying herself in work in order to make sure every colleague is well.
Animal News reporter Ms A hugged me as soon as she saw me. We have known each other for seven years.
I ran into Manager B, a very good friend of mine. We used to go buy siu mei at the Canteen on the fifth floor together.
The cashier screamed when she spotted me. Another familar face from the canteen cried out: “Why are you coming back? Are you paying me a visiting?”
Some former colleagues were taking group photos in the lobby, while some others were still busy in meetings as usual.
If there is still Apply Daily tomorrow, there are articles to be written and printed.
This is the daily routine in Next Digital--things got to be done. It is a sad moment, but there is no time to be immersed in sadness.
Today, many people cried while hugging me. After that, they continued to write articles and work in silence.
As long as Apple Daily is still here, there are news to be published.
The office of Mr. Cheung Kim-hung is vacant.
The seat of Mr. Lai Chee-ying is empty.
The staff of the newspaper vow to work until the end, until they can report news no more.
It is my honour to have been a part of Apple Daily."
Source: Terry’s Lazy Class #Jun21
https://www.facebook.com/108102623935984/posts/529270185152557/
#PoliceState #NationalSecurityLaw #PressFreedom #HongKongMedia #Journalism #FreeJimmy #SaveAppleDaily
====
Related News:
Arrests, National Security Charges and Frozen Assets: Apple Daily Might Shut Down in 5 Days
https://publielectoral.lat/guardiansofhongkong/30172
Voices are Disappearing in Face of "Stability and Prosperity"
https://publielectoral.lat/guardiansofhongkong/30175
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Forwarded from 📡Guardians of Hong Kong
#FirstHand #Jun21
HK Police Arrests Man for Hanging Pro-democracy Banner on Clothes-Drying Rack
A pro-democracy protest banner that read “Liberate Hong Kong, Revolution of our Times” was seen hanging outside a residential building on Fife Street in Mong Kok, Hong Kong on June 21, 2021.
The police arrested a 40-year-old man on suspicion of publishing sedition texts.
At around 17:30 in the afternoon, approximately 20 police officers went up to the flat and took the banner away. Four officers stationed at the entrance of the building while others escorted residents to go up to their home.
Plain clothed officers were also seen at the scene taking videos.
Photo: First Hand
Text: Stand News, #Jun21
https://www.thestandnews.com/politics/%E6%97%BA%E8%A7%92%E5%94%90%E6%A8%93%E5%A4%96%E6%8E%9B-%E5%85%89%E6%99%82-%E6%97%97-40-%E6%AD%B2%E7%94%B7%E8%A2%AB%E6%8C%87%E7%99%BC%E8%A1%A8%E7%85%BD%E5%8B%95%E6%96%87%E5%AD%97%E8%A2%AB%E6%8D%95/
#PoliceState #ProtestBanner #Arrest #Sedition
HK Police Arrests Man for Hanging Pro-democracy Banner on Clothes-Drying Rack
A pro-democracy protest banner that read “Liberate Hong Kong, Revolution of our Times” was seen hanging outside a residential building on Fife Street in Mong Kok, Hong Kong on June 21, 2021.
The police arrested a 40-year-old man on suspicion of publishing sedition texts.
At around 17:30 in the afternoon, approximately 20 police officers went up to the flat and took the banner away. Four officers stationed at the entrance of the building while others escorted residents to go up to their home.
Plain clothed officers were also seen at the scene taking videos.
Photo: First Hand
Text: Stand News, #Jun21
https://www.thestandnews.com/politics/%E6%97%BA%E8%A7%92%E5%94%90%E6%A8%93%E5%A4%96%E6%8E%9B-%E5%85%89%E6%99%82-%E6%97%97-40-%E6%AD%B2%E7%94%B7%E8%A2%AB%E6%8C%87%E7%99%BC%E8%A1%A8%E7%85%BD%E5%8B%95%E6%96%87%E5%AD%97%E8%A2%AB%E6%8D%95/
#PoliceState #ProtestBanner #Arrest #Sedition
Forwarded from 📡Guardians of Hong Kong
#Racism
Chinese man held over #racist videos and claims his aims to spread Chinese culture
A Chinese filmmaker wanted by Malawi as part of an investigation into allegations of racism and child exploitation has been arrested.
#LuKe was a #Malawi resident when he was exposed by #BBC #AfricaEye, which reported he had used local children to film personalised greetings videos, some of which included racist content.
These videos can be bought for up to $70 (£55) on Chinese social media and internet platforms.
Lu Ke denied making derogatory videos.
He said he made his videos in order to spread Chinese culture to the local community.
In one of the videos seen by the BBC, a group of young children is made to chant - in Chinese - "I'm a black monster. My IQ is low", clearly unaware of what they are saying.//
Read the full article:
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-61862619
Source: BBC #Jun21
#ChineseInternet #SocialMedia #Weibo #Weixin #Africa #ChineseinAfrica
Chinese man held over #racist videos and claims his aims to spread Chinese culture
A Chinese filmmaker wanted by Malawi as part of an investigation into allegations of racism and child exploitation has been arrested.
#LuKe was a #Malawi resident when he was exposed by #BBC #AfricaEye, which reported he had used local children to film personalised greetings videos, some of which included racist content.
These videos can be bought for up to $70 (£55) on Chinese social media and internet platforms.
Lu Ke denied making derogatory videos.
He said he made his videos in order to spread Chinese culture to the local community.
In one of the videos seen by the BBC, a group of young children is made to chant - in Chinese - "I'm a black monster. My IQ is low", clearly unaware of what they are saying.//
Read the full article:
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-61862619
Source: BBC #Jun21
#ChineseInternet #SocialMedia #Weibo #Weixin #Africa #ChineseinAfrica
BBC News
BBC Africa Eye expose: Chinese man held over racist videos
He was filmed using Malawian children to make videos, some of which included racist content.