Three Apple Daily executives released on bail

Three of the five Apple Daily executives, arrested by national security police on Thursday, were released on bail on Friday evening. Their release came hours after police charged the other two – editor-in-chief, Ryan Law, and chief executive, Cheung Kim-hung – with collusion with foreign or external forces.

On leaving Tseung Kwan O police station, associate publisher Chan Pui-man thanked her colleagues for standing firm, saying she was very touched to see them work so hard despite the difficult circumstances. On Friday, staff managed a print-run of 500,000 with eight pages covering the arrests and raid, up from 80,000 the previous day.

The other two, chief operating officer Chow Tat-kuen and chief executive editor Cheung Chi-wai did not comment.

The national security case centres on articles published by the newspaper that allegedly called for sanctions.

Law and Cheung Kim-hung will appear before West Kowloon Magistrates on Saturday.

Officers say they’re continuing their investigation.