 |
| Supporters of the two Apple Daily executives protest outside the court hearing on Jun 19, 2021. (Photo by= AFP/Peter Parks) |
[Asia News = Reporter Reakkana] HONG KONG: Crowds gathered outside a Hong Kong court early on Saturday (Jun 19) ahead of a hearing for two executives of newspaper Apple Daily charged under the city's sweeping national security law, in a case that has drawn international condemnation.
Editor-in-chief Ryan Law, 47, and chief executive Cheung Kim-hung, 59, were among five Apple Daily executives arrested on Thursday when 500 police raided the outlet's newsroom, which authorities described as a "crime scene." Both are charged with collusion with foreign powers, raising alarm over media freedoms in the financial hub as authorities intensify a crackdown under the contentious legislation. The other three, chief operating officer Chow Tat-kuen, deputy chief editor Chan Puiman and chief executive editor Cheung Chi-wai, were released on bail late on Friday, according to Apple Daily.
Dozens of supporters were queuing to get seats in court on Saturday morning, including many former and current employees of Apple Daily, a popular 26-year-old paper. Some held yellow umbrellas or wore Apple Daily T-shirts saying, "No fear, fight on." As investigations into Apple Daily and its senior executives ramp up, some employees and observers have expressed deepening concern over the newspaper's future.
