Hong Kong Police Should Stop Oppression and Release Journalists

On the evening of June 27 (Sunday), Fung Kai-kong (hereafter referred to as Fung), an editorial member of the Apple Daily, a Hong Kong pro-democracy newspaper, was arrested at the Hong Kong International Airport before departing for the UK. The Hong Kong police arrested him for violating national security law (accusations of complicity with abroad). Apple Daily has criticized the Chinese and Hong Kong government, and Hong Kong authorities have frozen $2.3 million of Apple Daily’s assets under national security laws.

Following this, the Apple Daily was closed after the last edition was printed last week due to employees’ safety and inability to pay wages. Since then, Hong Kong authorities have arrested seven journalists at the Apple Daily, including Mr. Fung.

The governments of China and Hong Kong have repressed Hong Kong’s demands for autonomy, arrested its prominent pro-democracy figures, and amended Hong Kong’s elections laws to prevent them from speaking out against the legislature. Also, by targeting the media that write criticism, such as the Apple Daily, they freeze assets and arrest journalists under the national security law.

Stand News, a pro-democracy online news outlet, also announced in a statement that it would delete comments posted on the website before June and stop fundraising activities for the safety of supporters, journalists, and editors considering national security law.

The May 18 Memorial Foundation condemns the Chinese and Hong Kong governments for the issues mentioned above. Also, we will be with the citizens of Hong Kong demanding freedom and democracy, and we urge for a peaceful resolution of the current situation as follows:

1. Release the arrested journalists immediately.
2. Lift the freeze on media assets.
3. Stop the oppression of the newspapers and respect freedom of speech and expression.
4. Ensure freedom and democracy in Hong Kong.

June 28, 2021

The May 18 Memorial Foundation