The former editor of the pro-democracy Apple Daily has been arrested in Hong Kong. Police only say that a 51-year-old former editor-in-chief has been arrested, but a police source confirmed that it was Lam Man Chong.
Lam was the editor-in-chief of the newspaper, which had to stop at the end of June under pressure from the Chinese government. The Apple Daily has been under fire since Hong Kong’s controversial security law was enacted last year.
Last month, the newspaper was raided and several journalists were arrested for allegedly endangering national security. The company’s assets have also been frozen. A week after that raid, publication was discontinued.
crossed the border
The former editor-in-chief is now in custody on suspicion of “collusion with foreign forces”. Owner Jamie Lai and two key Apple Daily employees were previously arrested.
According to the Chinese authorities, dozens of articles published by the newspaper violated the 2020 security law. Critics say the law restricts basic freedoms, but the authorities contradict this, saying that actions that threaten China’s national security go beyond borders. More arrests are not excluded.
