HONG KONG (Reuters) – Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai on Monday became the highest-profile detainee under a new national security law, arrested over suspected collusion with foreign troops as scores of police searched the offices of his Apple Daily newspaper.
Lai, 71, was one of the most prominent democracy activists in the Chinese-ruled city and a fierce critic of Beijing, which had imposed the sweeping new law on June 30 for Hong Kong, condemning Western countries.
His arrest comes on the afternoon of the collapse of Beijing against pro-democracy opposition in the city and further worries about media and other freedoms promised to the former British colony when it returned to China in 1997. .
It “conveys the least fear that the Hong Kong National Security Act would be used to suppress critical advocacy for pro-democracy and restrict press freedom,” said Steven Butler, the Committee to Protect Asia Programs Coordinator from Journalists . “Jimmy Lai must be released at the same time and any accusers dropped.”
Ryan Law, editor-in-chief of Apple Daily, told Reuters that the paper would not be intimidated by the robbery.
“Businesslike as usual,” he said.
The new security law punishes everything China considers for undermining, secession, terrorism and collusion with foreign troops with up to life in prison. Critics say it will crush freedoms, while supporters say it will bring stability to longer-term protests last year.
Lai had been a frequent visitor to Washington, where he met with former officials, including Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, to gather support for Hong Kong democracy, prompting Beijing to label him a “traitor.”
Hong Kong police said they had arrested seven men, aged 39-72, on suspicion of violating the new security law, without naming them, adding that further arrests were possible.
Apple Daily, which posted on its Facebook page a livestream of dozens of police officers who ran through its newsroom and rifled through files, reported that Lai was taken out of his home early Monday.
The live feed showed staff being asked to show identity documents. Some executive offices were closed with red cordons. The police later found themselves in piles of empty plastic containers.
Lai himself was later brought back to the office, initially in handcuffs.
“We can not worry so much, we can only go with the flow,” Lai said, before being escorted in a police car.
Police said they have a court order. The law allows police to search buildings without one “under exceptional circumstances”, and also allows documents, equipment and financial assets to be seized.
Apple Daily reported that one of Lai’s sons, Ian, was also arrested at his home and later revealed that his restaurant, Cafe Seasons, had been raided by police.
Shares of media company Next Digital (0282.HK), which Apple Daily publishes, fell 16.7% before returning to trade 300% higher. Some on Facebook posted screenshots of purchases that said they bought to show support for Lai.
Reuters could not verify the truth of the reports.
“The market may now think the worst is over,” said Kenny Ng, an analyst at Everbright Sun Sun Kai.
‘THIRD WORLD’
A source from Apple Daily said other seniors in the company were among those targeted and that they hired lawyers. Next Digital Executive Director Cheung Kim-hung was seen escorted by police from the building.
“We see this as direct harassment,” the source said, adding that Lai was arrested on suspicion of sedition, criminal fraud and collaborating with foreign troops.
Hong Kong Journalists Association president Chris Yeung said the search was “terrible.”
“I think that somewhere in third world countries there has been this kind of oppression; I just did not expect it in Hong Kong. ”
Taiwan Prime Minister Su Tseng-chang said: “China should not treat Hong Kong in this way.”
The law sent China on a collision course with the West, asking countries including Australia, Canada and Britain to suspend extradition treaties with Hong Kong.
In large cases in Hong Kong, the central government in Beijing can claim jurisdiction. The legislation allows agents to take suspects across the border for trial in communist party courts.
‘NOT intimidated’
Lai was also arrested this year on illegal assembly charges, along with other leading activists, related to protests last year.
In a Reuters interview in May, Lai vowed to stay in Hong Kong and fight for democracy.
Before Monday, 15 people were arrested under the law, including teenagers.
The new legislation has sent a chill through Hong Kong. Activists have disbanded their organizations while some have fled the city, later issued arrest warrants for suspected violations of the law.
The United States on Friday imposed sanctions on Hungarian leader Carrie Lam and other officials for allegedly helping to restrict political freedoms on the ground, with ridicule and condemnation drawn from Beijing.
The arrest reflects that Hong Kong was “not intimidated” by sanctions, Global Editor Hu Xijin said in a tweet. Global Times is published by China’s official Communist Party newspaper People’s Daily.
Additional reporting by Jessie Pang, Yanni Chow, Carol Mang, Noah Sin, Donny Kwok, Clare Jim and Marius Zaharia in Hong Kong and Yimou Lee in Taipei; Written by Marius Zaharia; Edited by Shri Navaratnam, Lincoln Feast and Gerry Doyle
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