HONG KONG – The sole remaining pro-democracy newspaper here published its last edition Thursday after five editors and executives were arrested and millions of dollars in its assets were frozen as part of China’s increasing crackdown on dissent in the semi-autonomous city.
On Wednesday, the board of directors of Apple Daily parent company Next Media said that the print and online editions would cease due to “the current circumstances prevailing in Hong Kong.”
The silencing of a prominent pro-democracy voice was the latest sign of China’s determination to exert greater control over the city long known for its freedoms after huge anti-government protests there in 2019 shook the government.
Since then, Beijing has imposed a strict national security law – used in the arrests of the newspaper employees – and revamped election laws here to keep opposition voices out of the legislature.(AP)
