BBC: Chinese police arrest six journalists from the independent Stand News agency
Photo: Tyrone Siu / Reuters
In Hong Kong, six journalists from the opposition independent news agency Stand News were arrested in a police raid. It is reported by the BBC.
Chinese police have arrested six employees of Stand News, a pro-democracy Hong Kong news agency, for “plotting to publish material banned by the authorities.” Among those arrested are both current and former media workers.
Police also arrested former Stand News director and world famous Hong Kong pop star Denis Ho. She advocated the city's independence from mainland Chinese authorities and LGBT rights.
The police said in a statement that 200 people were involved in the raid, and law enforcement officers were allowed to “search and seize the relevant journalistic materials.” The operation is still ongoing.
On June 25, it became known that the Apple Daily newspaper announced the closure. The Hong Kong Security Bureau accused the newspaper's executives of violating the National Security Law, in particular, under the article on relations with foreign states. It was known for openly criticizing the leadership of Hong Kong and China. Media assets were frozen, executives were detained.
In April, it was reported that Apple Daily founder Jimmy Lai was found guilty of organizing unauthorized rallies against Beijing in Hong Kong in 2019 and sentenced to a year in prison.
