Over 30 Apple Daily media articles allegedly created in collusion with foreign forces

(Photo credit: Apple Daily)

Apple Daily's editor-in-chief and four directors were arrested over alleged collusion with foreign forces. Police said five directors, including publisher of Apple Daily and CEO of parent company Next Digital Cheung Kim-hung, Apple Daily editor-in-chief publisher Ryan Law Wai-kwong, Next Digital chief financial officer Royston Chow Tat-Kuen, Apple Daily associate publisher Chan Pui-man, and Apple Daily digital director Cheung Chi-wai. 

Hong Kong's national security police have cited over 30 articles calling for sanctions against the city and mainland China as evidence of a conspiracy to collude with foreign forces. These directors had been arrested for collusion with a foreign country or with external elements to endanger national security, contravening Article 29 of the national security law.

Steve Li Kwai-wah, senior superintendent of the national security unit said in a press briefing that the arrestees played an important role for the articles and the operation of the newsroom. 

At the same time, assets amounting to HK$18 million of three companies, including Apple Daily, Apple Daily Printing and AD internet, had been frozen.

Last August, the police raided the headquarters of Apple Daily who could be seen looking through piles of materials and papers including on journalists' desks.

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