Tabloid founded by Jimmy Lai and targeted by police raid last week will print final edition on Saturday.
Apple Daily, Hong Kong's democratically targeted tabloid targeted by national security police last week, will be shut down online at midnight on Wednesday and will publish its final program on Thursday.
The paper and its activist, Jimmy Lai, had become the hallmarks of a pro-democracy movement, and they became thorns in Hong Kong's government and police.
On Wednesday afternoon, 26-year-old paper officials said they would stop updating the website at the end of the day, and would issue a final issue the next day. The move follows an announcement by the company's board that it would suspend operations "no later than Saturday," but management said it was looking into the safety of its employees, as well as concerns about the quality of work.
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This morning the chief secretary of ideas was arrested under national security law.
“Apple Daily thanks its readers, subscribers, advertisers and Hongkonger for their love and support over the past 26 years. Goodbye and take care, ”he said.
Last week, police arrested five officials, including chief editor Ryan Law, and chief executive officer Cheung Kim-hung, later charged, with collaborating with foreign or foreign forces to jeopardize national security. Hundreds of officials stormed the newsroom, seizing journalistic items.
The allegations are related to a number of unspecified articles that police say they want foreign sanctions imposed by the Hong Kong and Chinese governments. Police seized HK $ 18m (£ 1.66m) from the assets of three companies, Apple Daily Ltd, Apple Daily Printing Ltd and AD Internet Ltd, and locked accounts containing more than $ 500m.
On Monday, the company said without the release of the money they would not be able to pay workers or operating costs and they would be forced to close. The decision was not expected until Friday, but the announcement on Wednesday followed the arrest of the lead author of the paper, and under national security law.(ads1)
In a statement, Apple Daily stated: “The board of directors of Next Digital Limited regrets announcing that due to the current situation in Hong Kong, Apple Daily will be printed by the end of the final program on Saturday 26 June 2021 and the digital version will no longer be available by 11:59. pm Saturday 26 June 2021.
"The company thanks our readers for their loyal support to our journalists, staff and advertisers for their dedicated 26 years."
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