Hong Kong : 200 Police officers on Wednesday raided the office of Hong Kong pro-democracy media outlet Stand News, froze its assets, arrested seven current and former staff members on suspected "seditious publication" offences and shut it down. The staff were in police detention some 30 hours after their arrest, awaiting formal charges or release. Under Hong Kong law, police can detain suspects for a maximum of 48 hours.
On Wednesday morning, police officers burst into Stand News’ office, seizing phones, computers, documents and thousands of dollars, while hauling its acting editor-in-chief into the headquarters in handcuffs as it was searched.
The shutdown of Stand News is the latest blow to the city’s rapidly shrinking press freedoms. The raid raises more concerns about press freedom in the former British colony, which returned to Chinese rule in 1997 with the promise that its freedoms, including a free press, would be protected.
Stand News, set up in 2014 as a non-profit organisation, was the most prominent remaining pro-democracy publication in Hong Kong following the closure of jailed tycoon Jimmy Lai's Apple Daily tabloid. A national security investigation this year led to the closure of Tabloid. The publication said on Facebook, "Stand News is now stopping operations,". They also added that all employees had been dismissed.
The police action prompted censure by Germany and the U.N. Human Rights Office, which said it was alarmed at the "extremely rapid closing of the civic space and outlets for Hong Kong’s civil society to speak and express themselves freely". U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken called on Chinese and Hong Kong authorities to immediately release those arrested.
Leaders in Hong Kong refuted concerns with Carrie Lam, current Chief Executive of Hong Kong and Chairperson of the Committee for Safeguarding National Security telling reporters, "These actions have nothing to do with so-called suppression of press freedom. Journalism is not seditious ... but seditious activities could not be condoned under the guise of news news reporting."
Image courtesy : Reuters