Hong Kong, China: Hong Kong Pro-Democracy newspaper, Apple Daily, printed its last edition Thursday after a year of storm in which its owner of Tycoon and his other staff were arrested under a new National Security Act and its assets were frozen.
The closure of the popular tabloid, which mixes pro-democracies with celebrity gossip and surveys of these in power, marks the end of an era for freedom of the media in the Chinese rulers, critics say.
“Thanks to all readers, subscribers, additional customers and Hong Kongers for 26 years of immensely love and support. We say here goodbye, take care of yourself,” said the newspaper in an article online.
Hundreds of fans gathered outside the Apple Daily building on Wednesday night to show support, sometimes in the strong rain and wavy smartphone lights. The journalists came out on the balcony and responded with their own phones.
The last home page wore a photo of a staff member who acts on the supporters, with the title “Hong Kongers bidding a painful goodbye in the rain”.
A Reuters journalist present in the Apple daily newsroom has seen dozens of journalists who are getting along once the final edition has been sent to the press and some in tears.
The Alvin Chan journalist came out to distribute free copies to the supporters, saying, “I hope everyone can … continue to believe in our values.”
The paper, whose online version will also stop the update, said it printed one million copies of its latest edition – more than 10 times its normal printing.
Shortly after midnight, some news awaits that delivery had already had hundreds of people.
Support from Apple Daily’s Daily for democratic rights and freedoms has made a spine next to Beijing from the Owner Jimmy Lai, a self-made magnat that has been smuggled from mainland China to Hong Kong on a fishing boat. The age of 12, began in 1995.
He shook the media landscape in the Chinese language of the region and has become a champion of democracy on the margins of China Communist. Its disappearance leaves only a handful of small online outlets on this side of the policy, including news stand and new citizens.
The Citizen News Employee Unions and six other media groups stated that they would bring black Thursday to protest on what they described as “the blow of freedom of the press”. The management of citizen news and stand news could not be contacted for comments.
Challenge in Beijing
Apple’s daily supporters have league as a phase of freedom of the media in the Chinese world. He has challenged Beijing’s authoritarianism several times and has been read by more liberal Chinese Diaspora.
The LAI, whose assets have been frozen, has been in prison since December on the accusations, arising from pro-democracing demonstrations, to participate in unauthorized assemblies.
Some groups of rights, media organizations and Western governments have criticized the action against the newspaper.
The head of Hong Kong Carrie Lam said Tuesday that the criticism of the newspaper raid is equivalent to trying to “embellish” the acts of endangered national security. Chinese officials denounced criticism as interference.
Hong Kong and contingent officials have repeatedly told media freedoms are respected but are not absolute.
