Hongkongers trooped out to be on queue from Wednesday night to grab a copy of the last edition of Hong Kong’s Apple Daily pro-democracy newspaper.
Gatekeepers News reports that today (Thursday)’s edition will be the last to be printed by the tabloid that appeared as a champion of democracy and blunt critic of China.
Gatekeepers News gathered that hundreds of supporters in Mong Kok began queuing as early as 10 p.m on Wednesday to get a copy of the last edition which arrived at newspapers stands at about 12:55 a.m on Thursday. Dozens were said to have queued at the newsstand at Argyle street.
Earlier on Wednesday, Apple Daily announced its decision to go into extinction based on “employee safety and manpower considerations,” it added: “Here we say goodbye. Take care of yourselves.”
The paper’s exit comes after Police had raided the paper twice within the past 10 months over alleged violation of the National Security Law that was imposed by Beijing almost a year ago.
The first raid which was in August 2020, saw the 73-year-old founder, Jimmy Lai land in jail and awaiting trial under the law.
While last week’s raid saw five top executives, including its chief editor, arrested for alleged security offences as 500 police officers descended on Apple’s headquarters, with another staffer, the head editorial writer arrested on Wednesday morning.
What, however, led to the end of Apple Daily was when Hong Kong authorities’ froze the bank accounts of the media group that owns the paper.
This, made it impossible for the paper to pay its staff and vendors, even as readers grabbed copies to show their support.
