Pro-democracy tycoon held as his newspaper is raided by police
ONE of Hong Kong’s most prominent pro-democracy figures was arrested today and the newspaper he runs raided by police under a new national security law brought in by China.
Business tycoon Jimmy Lai, who runs popular tabloid Apple Daily, was held in the former British colony over allegations of collusion with foreign forces.
His is the most high-profile arrest so far under the security law imposed in June, which makes it easier to punish protesters who object to Chinese rule.
Mr Lai, 71, regularly criticises Beijing and the Hong Kong government. He was led out of his house in Kowloon by police officers in face masks. Later, he was taken to the headquarters of his media company Next Digital, where a raid was ongoing, according to a video live-streamed by staff. Mr Lai remained in the offices for two and a half hours before police took him away in a car.
Seven people, aged between 39 and 72, were arrested on suspicion of violating the security law, with offences including collusion with a foreign country, Hong Kong police said.
Critics of the new law say it was brought in to curb dissent after the months-long anti-government protests in the semi-autonomous city last year. The legislation outlaws secessionist, subversive and terrorist acts, as well as collusion with foreign forces in the city’s internal affairs. The maximum punishment is life imprisonment. The arrests come days after the US government announced sanctions on Hong Kong and mainland Chinese officials.
Chinese state media Global Times today said Mr Lai was a “riot supporter”.
In May, after Beijing announced its intention to pass the law, Mr Lai wrote in the New York Times that China was repressing Hong Kong with the legislation. He was previously arrested in February and April for allegedly taking part in an unauthorised protest last year. He also faces charges for joining an unauthorised vigil on June 4. The details behind the accusation that Mr Lai or others at the newspaper may have colluded with foreign forces were not clear.