Hong Kong activist and music star Denise Ho bows to well wishers as she is released from Western Police Station after more than twenty-four hours in custody Thursday, Dec. HONG KONG (AP) - Two former editors from a Hong Kong online pro-democracy news outlet were charged with sedition and denied bail Thursday, a day after the outlet said it would cease operations following a police raid on its office and seven arrests. As reported by the AP: National security police said they charged two men, aged 34 and 52, with one count each of conspiracy to publish a seditious publications For 99 years, 1898 to 1997, Hong Kong flourished under British democratic rule, and one might think this a good lesson for Xi Jinping and his government, but instead of embracing Hong Kong, its unique history is being erased.
#Onlinepro outlet center free
A confident government that is unafraid of the truth embraces a free press.Right now, in Hong Kong it is not a good idea to be linked to any pro-democracy group, or anything even close to that ideology, as the Chinese Communist Party is desperately wiping out any opposition to its brutal government policies. “It should be very clear what is reporting of news, and what is seditious acts or activities to undermine national security.”īlinken criticized the arrests, saying that by silencing independent media, Chinese and local authorities undermine Hong Kong’s “credibility and viability. “Journalism is not sedition, but seditious acts and activities and inciting other people through other acts and activities could not be condoned under the guise of news reporting,” Lam, the Hong Kong leader, told a news conference. If convicted, they could face up to two years in prison and a fine of up to 5,000 Hong Kong dollars ($640). The seven were arrested on Wednesday under a crime ordinance that dates from Hong Kong’s days as a British colony before 1997, when it was returned to China with a promise from Beijing that it would keep Western-style freedoms for 50 years. Apply Daily was forced to cease operations earlier this year after its publisher, Jimmy Lai, and top editors were arrested and its assets frozen. Ho was released from police custody on Thursday afternoon.Ĭhan Pui-man, a former editor at the pro-democracy Apple Daily newspaper and Chung’s wife, was also arrested. They include four former Stand News board members, including Ho and former lawmaker Margaret Ng. The others have been detained for further questioning. Lam was not present in court because he was in the hospital. The cases were brought to West Kowloon court on Thursday, police said in a statement. Police also said they would prosecute the company for sedition. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken called on Hong Kong authorities to release the detainees, and Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Melanie Joly said her country was deeply concerned about the arrests, which included singer Denise Ho, a Canadian citizen and activist.Īccording to a charge sheet, national security police filed one count each of conspiracy to publish a seditious publication against Chung Pui-kuen and Patrick Lam, former editors at Stand News. Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam defended the raid on Stand News amid a wider crackdown on dissent in the semi-autonomous city, telling reporters that “inciting other people … could not be condoned under the guise of news reporting.” HONG KONG (AP) - Two former editors from a Hong Kong online pro-democracy news outlet were charged with sedition and denied bail Thursday, a day after one of the last openly critical voices in the city said it would cease operations following a police raid on its office and seven arrests. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated. This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated.
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