National security law: Hong Kong security chief orders operations freeze at Apple Daily Printing
- Chris Tang issues the order under national security law, accusing printing house of being an asset linked to criminality
- Landlord of Apple Daily headquarters seeks court order to take back the premises
Hong Kong’s security chief has ordered an operations freeze at the Apple Daily printing house in Tseung Kwan O, as a national security investigation continues into Next Digital, the parent company of the now-defunct newspaper founded by jailed tycoon Jimmy Lai Chee-ying.
Chris Tang Ping-keung’s update on the National Security Department investigation on Wednesday followed a court order sought by the landlord of the tabloid-style newspaper’s headquarters to take back the premises.
Tang said he invoked powers under the national security law to order the freezing of operations at Apple Daily Printing, a subsidiary of Next Digital, because the property was an asset linked to crimes committed in breach of the Beijing-imposed legislation.
“With the powers under the implementation rules for Article 43 of the national security law, I ordered the freezing of the company,” Tang said.
The national security law criminalises acts of secession, subversion, terrorism, and collusion with foreign forces.
In June, three companies related to Apple Daily were charged with collusion with a foreign country and authorities froze HK$18 million (US$2.3 million) of their assets. Days later, the board decided to shut down the newspaper, which printed its last edition on June 24.
Police that month also arrested several senior Apple Daily executives, some of whom have been charged with conspiracy to collude with foreign forces over a series of articles allegedly calling for sanctions on Chinese officials.
