November 8, 2024

Press Freedom

China

OPC Supports Hong Kong Journalists Opposing Arrest of Apple Daily Executives

The Overseas Press Club of America joins with Hong Kong-based reporters to express concern over the arrest of five executives at Apple Daily, including its editor-in-chief Ryan Law and deputy chief editor. According to a “letter to readers” published by Apple Daily, the news organization was raided by 500 police officers who arrested the journalists for “collusion with a foreign country or with external elements to endanger national security” under Article 29 of the national security law, and confiscated computers containing “considerable journalist materials.”

“The new security law and how it is being used against the press is extremely troubling,” said Peter Spiegel, chair of the OPC’s press freedom committee.

The OPC endorses the statement by the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Hong Kong, which said it is concerned that the actions “will serve to intimidate independent media in Hong Kong and will cast a chill over the free press, protected under the Basic Law.”