US calls for release of Apple Daily executives

The United States on Thursday strongly condemned the arrest of five executives of pro-democracy Hong Kong tabloid Apple Daily and its parent company and suggested the action was politically motivated.

Police carried out the raid on Thursday morning in an operation involving some 500 officers. Officers said the investigation centred on articles featuring calls for foreign sanctions on Hong Kong and Beijing officials.

“We strongly condemn the arrest of five senior executives from Apple Daily and its parent company … and we call for their immediate release,” State Department spokesman Ned Price said in a telephone briefing.

“We are deeply concerned by Hong Kong authorities’ selective use of the national security law to arbitrarily target independent media organisations.

“The charges of ‘collusion with a foreign country or with external elements to endanger national security’ appear to be entirely politically motivated.”

The Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs earlier hit out at foreign politicians and western media who have been critical of the police raid. (Reuters/RTHK)
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Last updated: 2021-06-18 HKT 08:30