Over 200 police officers from Hong Kong’s National Security Department raided the offices of online pro-democracy media outlet Stand News on Dec. 29, while arresting six current and former staff members.
They were arrested for “conspiracy to publish seditious publications,” the Hong Kong government announced in a statement. The announcement did not name the six individuals, except that they were three men and three women, aged between 34 and 73.
The conspiracy charge is not a crime under the city’s draconian national security law. According to the statement, the six were accused of breaching the city’s colonial Crimes Ordinance.
Chan is currently also the chairperson of the Hong Kong Journalists Association (HKFA).
According to Hong Kong media, former editor-in-chief Chung Pui-kuen, acting chief editor Patrick Lam, and barrister Margaret Ng were among those arrested. Ng was also once a board member.
According to a separate statement, the Hong Kong government stated “over 200 uniformed and plainclothes police officers have been deployed” in an operation against Stand News. It stated that the police were there to “search and seize relevant journalistic materials.”
The massive police operation immediately drew condemnation from Samuel Chu, president and founder of U.S.-based advocacy group Campaign for Hong Kong. Chu said Beijing was sending a strong message since the raid was carried out the day after the HKFA held an annual dinner.
“We strongly condemn this dangerous use of colonial-era sedition laws to strangle press freedom and freedom of expression, and we also know that this attack will not stop with just Hong Kong media companies,” he added.
Apple Daily, which is published by Next Digital, is a Hong Kong newspaper known for publishing voices critical of China’s ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and voices supportive of the Hong Kong protesters.
“We urge the U.S. government and its allies, along with news organizations and journalists worldwide, to condemn this latest assault on press freedom and to work toward the release of all imprisoned journalists in Hong Kong and China,” Chu said.
“HKJA urges the government to protect press freedom in accordance with the Basic Law,” it added.