STATEMENT:
Forced Closure by China of Apple Daily, Pro-democracy Newspaper
Forced Closure by China of Apple Daily, Pro-democracy Newspaper
June 23, 2021
Apple Daily, Hong Kong’s largest pro-democracy daily newspaper has been forced to close under the pretext of “national security” offenses, despite still having millions of dollars available to keep operating. This shut-down follows the arrests of its top leadership and freezing of its assets, as well as the arrest and imprisonment of its founder, Jimmy Lai.
Ellen Bork, President of the Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong (CFHK) said:
“It is perverse, outrageous and entirely predictable that July 1, the occasion of the Chinese Communist Party’s 100th birthday, should be marked by the destruction of a private enterprise devoted to a core freedom. The Party’s treatment of Apple Daily and Hong Kong reflects its cynical disregard for promises it made for Hong Kong’s autonomy and freedom. Apple Daily’s fate, emblematic of Hong Kong’s own, was foreseeable, and is in part the result of a weak and inadequate response by democratic governments around the world to China’s violations of these promises.
“The world should be in no doubt that the destruction of Apple Daily and the broader assault on Hong Kong’s people is part and parcel of the anti-democratic agenda China’s Communist Party is pursuing internationally. It beggars belief that the world’s democracies will continue as usual with summits, the Olympics, and trade and investment in the wake of this affront to the liberal democratic values they purport to espouse.
“For China’s Communist Party, the mounting number of Hong Kong political prisoners held for asserting basic rights is an 'accomplishment' that reflects the Party’s warped values.
“There was a time when the release of political prisoners was a top priority of American foreign policy. The CFHK calls on the world’s democratic governments to seek the immediate release of all those charged and convicted for peaceful protest and pro-democracy activism.”
Apple Daily, Hong Kong’s largest pro-democracy daily newspaper has been forced to close under the pretext of “national security” offenses, despite still having millions of dollars available to keep operating. This shut-down follows the arrests of its top leadership and freezing of its assets, as well as the arrest and imprisonment of its founder, Jimmy Lai.
Ellen Bork, President of the Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong (CFHK) said:
“It is perverse, outrageous and entirely predictable that July 1, the occasion of the Chinese Communist Party’s 100th birthday, should be marked by the destruction of a private enterprise devoted to a core freedom. The Party’s treatment of Apple Daily and Hong Kong reflects its cynical disregard for promises it made for Hong Kong’s autonomy and freedom. Apple Daily’s fate, emblematic of Hong Kong’s own, was foreseeable, and is in part the result of a weak and inadequate response by democratic governments around the world to China’s violations of these promises.
“The world should be in no doubt that the destruction of Apple Daily and the broader assault on Hong Kong’s people is part and parcel of the anti-democratic agenda China’s Communist Party is pursuing internationally. It beggars belief that the world’s democracies will continue as usual with summits, the Olympics, and trade and investment in the wake of this affront to the liberal democratic values they purport to espouse.
“For China’s Communist Party, the mounting number of Hong Kong political prisoners held for asserting basic rights is an 'accomplishment' that reflects the Party’s warped values.
“There was a time when the release of political prisoners was a top priority of American foreign policy. The CFHK calls on the world’s democratic governments to seek the immediate release of all those charged and convicted for peaceful protest and pro-democracy activism.”
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The Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong (CFHK) presses for political and economic consequences for China’s failure to keep its promises regarding Hong Kong’s freedoms; supports the rule of law, freedom of expression, and the release of political prisoners – and urges the business community to stand against China’s assault on freedom, which also imperils Hong Kong’s status as an international financial center. Hong Kong’s fate is linked to the preservation of freedom, democracy, and international law in the region and around the world.
---
For more information, please contact:
Ellen Bork
P: +1 (301) 718-4813
E: media@thecfhk.org
www.thecfhk.org
@thecfhk
The Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong (CFHK) presses for political and economic consequences for China’s failure to keep its promises regarding Hong Kong’s freedoms; supports the rule of law, freedom of expression, and the release of political prisoners – and urges the business community to stand against China’s assault on freedom, which also imperils Hong Kong’s status as an international financial center. Hong Kong’s fate is linked to the preservation of freedom, democracy, and international law in the region and around the world.
---
For more information, please contact:
Ellen Bork
P: +1 (301) 718-4813
E: media@thecfhk.org
www.thecfhk.org
@thecfhk
