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Work from home? Nah. How about 'work from paradise' – at Potato Head Bali CNAHONG KONG: Hong Kongers queued Thursday (Jun 24) for the final edition of the city's beloved pro-democracy tabloid Apple Daily after it was forced to close under a sweeping new national security law, ending a 26-year run of taking on China's authoritarian leaders.
The sudden death of the popular newspaper is the latest blow to Hong Kong's freedoms and deepens unease over whether the international finance centre can remain a media hub as China seeks to stamp out dissent.
In the working-class district of Mongkok, hundreds queued through the early hours of Thursday to get their hands on the final edition, some chanting "Apple Daily we will meet again!"
The swansong front page featured the paper's own journalists waving goodbye to crowds outside its headquarters.
"It's very shocking," a 30-year-old woman, who was in the queue and gave her first name as Candy, told AFP.
"Within two weeks, authorities could use this national security law to dismantle a listed company."
A few hours later, vendors were doing a roaring trade with commuters in Central, the financial heart of the city.
"It is all so sudden," a student, who gave his first name as Tim, told AFP.
"I think Hong Kong has entered a dark age."
ASSET FREEZE
Hong Kong's most popular tabloid had long been a thorn in Beijing's side, with unapologetic support for the city's pro-democracy movement and caustic criticism of China's authoritarian leaders.
Those same leaders used a new security law to bring about its rapid demise.
Owner Jimmy Lai, currently in jail for attending democracy protests, was among the first to be charged under the law after its imposition last year.
But the final chapter was written over the last week when authorities deployed the security law to raid the newsroom, arrest senior executives and freeze its assets.
That last move crippled the paper's ability to conduct business or pay staff and the news group decided Thursday's newspaper - a run of one million copies in a city of 7.5 million - would be its last.
Overnight it took down its website, Twitter and Facebook accounts.
Some 1,000 people, including 700 journalists, are now out of work.
"Hong Kongers lost a media organisation that dared to speak up and insist on defending the truth," eight local journalist associations said in a joint statement, as they called on colleagues to dress in black on Thursday.
FORBIDDEN OPINIONS
China imposed its security law on Hong Kong last year after the city was convulsed by huge and often violent democracy protests in 2019.
The prosecution of Apple Daily was sparked by articles and columns that allegedly supported international sanctions against China, a view now deemed illegal.
Lai, chief editor Ryan Law and CEO Cheung Kim-hung have all been charged with colluding with foreign forces to undermine China's national security and remanded into custody.
On Wednesday, Yeung Ching-kee, one of the paper's top columnists, was arrested on the same charge.
The decision to freeze Apple Daily's assets also laid bare the sweeping powers now at the disposal of authorities to pursue any company deemed to be a national security threat.
Multiple international media companies have regional headquarters in Hong Kong, attracted to the business-friendly regulations and free speech provisions written into the city's mini-constitution.
But many local and international outlets are questioning whether they have a future there.
FIRST TRIAL
Hong Kong has plunged down an annual press freedom ranking by Reporters Without Borders, from 18th place in 2002 to 80th this year. Mainland China languishes at 177th out of 180, above only Turkmenistan, North Korea and Eritrea.
China and Hong Kong's authorities have hailed the security law for successfully restoring stability after the 2019 demonstrations and said media outlets must not "subvert" the government.
Authorities initially said the law would only target "a tiny minority".
But it has radically transformed the political and legal landscape of a city that China promised would be able to keep key liberties and autonomy after its 1997 return by Britain.
On Wednesday, the first trial under the new law got under way for a man accused of riding a motorbike into police officers.
His trial is not being heard by a jury, a major departure from Hong Kong's common law traditions.
His case is unusual because he is the only Hong Konger so far charged under the security law with an explicitly violent act.
More than 60 people have now been charged under the law, including some of the city's best-known democracy activists, but their offences are related to political views or speech that authorities have declared illegal.
HONG KONG (AFP) - As journalists from Hong Kong's embattled pro-democracy Apple Daily newspaper scrambled to produce their final edition, they did not need to go far to find their front page - the news was right outside their doors.
With its confrontational style, caustic commentaries and sometimes tawdry reporting techniques, the city's most popular tabloid was no stranger to being in the headlines.
So it was perhaps fitting that its final front page after 26 years of operation featured its own journalists waving goodbye to hundreds of supporters on the streets outside.
"Hong Kongers bid a painful farewell in the rain: 'We support Apple Daily'," the paper's last headline read.
Apple Daily is the latest Hong Kong institution to be upended by a national security law that Beijing imposed on the city last year to stamp out dissent after huge and often violent democracy protests.
The authorities used the law to freeze its assets and arrest five key executives last week.
Six days later, it folded.
Inside the bustling newsroom on Wednesday evening (June 23), many staff wept as they put together the last edition. Others gathered for group photos and cheered.
"We're trying to do the best at the very last moment," a harried page designer, who gave his surname as Kwok, told AFP, as a gaggle of reporters from rival outlets criss-crossed the newsroom documenting a watershed moment for their own embattled industry.
"It's a complicated feeling," he added.
One photographer, who declined to be named, said the newsroom was filled with far more employees than usual on its last night, almost like a reunion or a funeral.
"It was a chance to gather all the colleagues together, we made it a historical moment," he told AFP.
But he said few had much optimism.
"It doesn't look good for the future of Hong Kong news, press freedom and the news industry," he added.
Throughout the evening, a steadily growing crowd of supporters kept vigil outside.
Many chanted slogans or messages of encouragement and shone mobile phone lights towards the building.
Now and then, those inside would come out onto a balcony and wave, replying with their own mobile phone flash lights.
Transportation worker Alan Tso, 30, said he had been reading Apple Daily for the last 12 years.
He said he sent a box of fresh apples to the company this morning and asked for early leave from work after learning the paper would close.
He pinned a three-page hand-written letter to the company's gates.
"Thank you for standing fast at your posts and reporting news every day for Hong Kongers," it read.
"Apple Daily stands for the spirit of daring to do what you believe is right," Mr Tso told AFP.
"I won't buy other newspapers after I lose it."
The paper's headquarters is on a remote industrial estate at the far eastern end of Hong Kong.
A 27-year-old woman who gave her first name as Beatrice said she travelled with a friend to be with her favourite paper on its last night.
"I felt like I needed to go. It's a duty for me to say goodbye," she said.
A man in a yellow face mask, who gave his surname as Chow, was among four people writing messages on the paper's main gate.
"I think Hong Kong has no future," he told AFP.
"We will never have the old Hong Kong again because since the national security law came in all freedom of press, freedom of expression and freedom of assembly have been suppressed by the government."
Shortly after midnight, the printing presses began rolling and staff came out to give free copies to the crowds outside.
Many in the crowd were weeping. Others chanted democracy slogans and shook the hands of some of the 1,000 employees now out of work.
One Apple Daily photographer, who asked not to be named but said he joined when the paper first opened in 1995, had spent some of the evening watching and shooting the crowds below.
His eyes were red.
Asked what he would do next, he simply shrugged.
"I just have to stop. No more. Relax."
BARCELONA: British-born US technology entrepreneur John McAfee died on Wednesday (Jun 23) by suicide in a Barcelona prison after the Spanish high court authorised his extradition to the United States on tax evasion charges, his lawyer told Reuters.
McAfee's lawyer, Javier Villalba, said the anti-virus software pioneer died by hanging as his nine months in prison brought him to despair.
During a court hearing last month, McAfee, 75, said that given his age, he would spend the rest of his life in jail if convicted in the United States. "I am hoping that the Spanish court will see the injustice of this," he said, adding "the United States wants to use me as an example".
McAfee had lived for years on the run from US authorities, some of that time aboard a megayacht. He was indicted in Tennessee on tax evasion charges and was charged in a cryptocurrency fraud case in New York.
The colourful tech founder was detained on Oct 3 at the Barcelona airport as he was about to board a flight to Istanbul with a British passport, a Spanish police source said at the time.
McAfee worked for NASA, Xerox and Lockheed Martin before launching the world's first commercial anti-virus in 1987. He sold his software company to Intel in 2011 and no longer had any involvement in the business. The program still carries his name and has 500 million users worldwide.
Spain's high court said on Wednesday it agreed to extradite McAfee to the United States. The regional justice department confirmed that a US man aged 75 awaiting extradition was found dead in his cell on Wednesday. Prison authorities were investigating the cause of death.
McAfee still had opportunities to appeal his conviction but could not stand more time in jail, Villalba said.
"This is the result of a cruel system that had no reason to keep this man in jail for so long," Villalba said. US prosecutors will likely ask the judge overseeing the tax evasion case to dismiss charges because of McAfee's death.
McAfee said in 2019 that he had not paid US income taxes for eight years for ideological reasons. That year, he left the United States to avoid trial, largely living on a megayacht with his wife, four large dogs, two security guards and seven staff.
He offered to help Cuba avoid a US trade embargo using cryptocurrency and sought to run for US president for the Libertarian Party.
McAfee, who said in 2018 that he had fathered at least 47 children, lived in Belize for several years. He fled after police sought him for questioning in the 2012 murder of a neighbour. They ultimately said he was not a suspect.
He met his wife, Janice McAfee, when she solicited him as a prostitute while he was on the run, he said.
Janice McAfee said in a post on Twitter on Sunday, "Now the US authorities are determined to have John die in prison to make an example of him for speaking out against the corruption within their government agencies ... There is no hope of him ever having a fair trial in America."
McAfee was a prolific user of Twitter, where he had 1 million followers, and other social media.
He posted a profanity-laced video on YouTube in 2013 that mocked the difficulty of removing the software that bore his name from computers.
A number of cryptocurrency backers around the world on Wednesday posted tweets of condolence. In his last public tweet on Jun 18, McAfee wrote: "All power corrupts. Take care which powers you allow a democracy to wield."
Where to get help: Samaritans of Singapore operates a 24-hour hotline at 1800 221 4444, or you can email pat@sos.org.sg. If someone you know is at immediate risk, call 24-hour emergency medical services.
HONG KONG: Hong Kong's most vocal pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily said it will print its last edition on Thursday (Jun 23) after a stormy year in which it was raided by police and its tycoon owner and other staff were arrested under a new national security law.
The closure of the popular tabloid, which mixes pro-democracy views with celebrity gossip and investigations of those in power, marks the end of an era for media freedom in the Chinese-ruled city, critics say.
"Thank you to all readers, subscribers, ad clients and Hong Kongers for 26 years of immense love and support. Here we say goodbye, take care of yourselves," Apple Daily said in an online article.
Apple Daily's support for democratic rights and freedoms has made it a thorn in Beijing's side since owner Jimmy Lai, a self-made tycoon who was smuggled from mainland China into Hong Kong on a fishing boat at the age of 12, started it in 1995.
It shook up the region's Chinese-language media landscape and became a champion of democracy on the margins of Communist China. Its demise leaves only a handful of small online outlets on that side of politics, including Stand News and Citizen News.
Staff unions at Citizen News and six other media groups said they would wear black on Thursday in protest at what they described as “the government’s blow against freedom of the press”. Management at Citizen News and Stand News could not be reached for comment outside of office hours.
DISSIDENTS
While viewed as tawdry at times by some of its critics, supporters championed Apple Daily as a beacon of media freedom in the Chinese-speaking world. It is read by dissidents and a more liberal Chinese diaspora - repeatedly challenging Beijing's authoritarianism.
Lai, whose assets have been frozen, has been in jail since December on charges of taking part in unauthorised assemblies, stemming from pro-democracy protests.
Some rights groups, media organisations and Western governments have criticised the action against the newspaper.
"It will put a lot of pressure on all those who write reports or editorials," said Ronson Chan, head of the Hong Kong Journalists’ Association. "We just don’t know what the red line is.”
Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam said on Tuesday criticism of the raid on the newspaper amounted to attempts to "beautify" acts that endangered national security. Chinese officials have denounced the criticism as interference.
Hong Kong and mainland officials have repeatedly said that media freedoms are respected but are not absolute.
Apple Daily, which is published by Next Digital and employs hundreds of journalists, said in its online article that the decision to close was "based on employee safety and manpower considerations".
Since being raided by police, the newspaper has suffered mass resignations and entire departments had to close.
Apple Daily and Next Digital management could not be reached to comment further.
In an interview with Reuters, an adviser to Lai said on Monday the paper would close “in a matter of days” as authorities had frozen company assets, leaving it unable to pay staff or operate.
'EMPLOYEE SAFETY'
About 200 police raided the paper's newsroom in August last year, when Lai was arrested on suspicion of colluding with foreign forces, and again last week, by 500 police, when five other executives were detained.
On both occasions, the paper said it increased its print run to 500,000 the following day from the usual 80,000, and residents of the city of 7.5 million queued up at news stands to buy it to show their anger at the crackdown.
Apple Daily, whose online version will stop updating, said it expected to print one million copies on Thursday.
“The arrests of Apple Daily staff, seizing of journalistic materials and freezing of its assets will send a shiver down the spine of all media outlets operating in Hong Kong," said Amnesty International's Asia-Pacific regional director Yamini Mishra.
The police action was seen as the most direct attack on Hong Kong's freewheeling media since Beijing regained control of the city in 1997.
Authorities in Hong Kong have said the moves against Apple Daily were not targeting the media industry or press freedom.
The security law imposed on the city last year was Beijing's first major move to put Hong Kong on a more authoritarian path.
Hong Kong leader Lam and other pro-Beijing officials have said it has restored stability after months of often-violent pro-democracy protests.
BANNER
The Taiwan arm of Apple Daily said it would continue to publish online given its independent finances.
Apple Daily has come under increasing pressure since Lai was arrested last year under the security legislation.
Police last week froze assets of companies linked to the newspaper and arrested five executives, effectively choking its operations. On Wednesday, police arrested a columnist on suspicion of conspiring to collude with foreign forces.
Authorities have said dozens of Apple Daily articles may have violated the security law, the first instance of authorities taking aim at media reports under the legislation.
Next Digital has been kept afloat by loans from Lai. In May, Reuters reported exclusively that Hong Kong’s security chief had sent letters to branches of HSBC and Citibank threatening up to seven years’ jail for any dealings with the billionaire' s accounts in the city.
A handful of Beijing supporters celebrated the paper's demise with champagne and a "Fake News" banner in front of its headquarters.
HONG KONG: Hong Kong's most vocal pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily said it will print its last edition on Thursday (Jun 23) after a stormy year in which it was raided by police and its tycoon owner and other staff were arrested under a new national security law.
The closure of the popular tabloid, which mixes pro-democracy views with celebrity gossip and investigations of those in power, marks the end of an era for media freedom in the Chinese-ruled city, critics say.
"Thank you to all readers, subscribers, ad clients and Hong Kongers for 26 years of immense love and support. Here we say goodbye, take care of yourselves," Apple Daily said in an online article.
Apple Daily's support for democratic rights and freedoms has made it a thorn in Beijing's side since owner Jimmy Lai, a self-made tycoon who was smuggled from mainland China into Hong Kong on a fishing boat at the age of 12, started it in 1995.
It shook up the region's Chinese-language media landscape and became a champion of democracy on the margins of Communist China. Its demise leaves only a handful of small online outlets on that side of politics, including Stand News and Citizen News.
Staff unions at Citizen News and six other media groups said they would wear black on Thursday in protest at what they described as “the government’s blow against freedom of the press”. Management at Citizen News and Stand News could not be reached for comment outside of office hours.
DISSIDENTS
While viewed as tawdry at times by some of its critics, supporters championed Apple Daily as a beacon of media freedom in the Chinese-speaking world. It is read by dissidents and a more liberal Chinese diaspora - repeatedly challenging Beijing's authoritarianism.
Lai, whose assets have been frozen, has been in jail since December on charges of taking part in unauthorised assemblies, stemming from pro-democracy protests.
Some rights groups, media organisations and Western governments have criticised the action against the newspaper.
"It will put a lot of pressure on all those who write reports or editorials," said Ronson Chan, head of the Hong Kong Journalists’ Association. "We just don’t know what the red line is.”
Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam said on Tuesday criticism of the raid on the newspaper amounted to attempts to "beautify" acts that endangered national security. Chinese officials have denounced the criticism as interference.
Hong Kong and mainland officials have repeatedly said that media freedoms are respected but are not absolute.
Apple Daily, which is published by Next Digital and employs hundreds of journalists, said in its online article that the decision to close was "based on employee safety and manpower considerations".
Since being raided by police, the newspaper has suffered mass resignations and entire departments had to close.
Apple Daily and Next Digital management could not be reached to comment further.
In an interview with Reuters, an adviser to Lai said on Monday the paper would close “in a matter of days” as authorities had frozen company assets, leaving it unable to pay staff or operate.
'EMPLOYEE SAFETY'
About 200 police raided the paper's newsroom in August last year, when Lai was arrested on suspicion of colluding with foreign forces, and again last week, by 500 police, when five other executives were detained.
On both occasions, the paper said it increased its print run to 500,000 the following day from the usual 80,000, and residents of the city of 7.5 million queued up at news stands to buy it to show their anger at the crackdown.
Apple Daily, whose online version will stop updating, said it expected to print one million copies on Thursday.
“The arrests of Apple Daily staff, seizing of journalistic materials and freezing of its assets will send a shiver down the spine of all media outlets operating in Hong Kong," said Amnesty International's Asia-Pacific regional director Yamini Mishra.
The police action was seen as the most direct attack on Hong Kong's freewheeling media since Beijing regained control of the city in 1997.
Authorities in Hong Kong have said the moves against Apple Daily were not targeting the media industry or press freedom.
The security law imposed on the city last year was Beijing's first major move to put Hong Kong on a more authoritarian path.
Hong Kong leader Lam and other pro-Beijing officials have said it has restored stability after months of often-violent pro-democracy protests.
BANNER
The Taiwan arm of Apple Daily said it would continue to publish online given its independent finances.
Apple Daily has come under increasing pressure since Lai was arrested last year under the security legislation.
Police last week froze assets of companies linked to the newspaper and arrested five executives, effectively choking its operations. On Wednesday, police arrested a columnist on suspicion of conspiring to collude with foreign forces.
Authorities have said dozens of Apple Daily articles may have violated the security law, the first instance of authorities taking aim at media reports under the legislation.
Next Digital has been kept afloat by loans from Lai. In May, Reuters reported exclusively that Hong Kong’s security chief had sent letters to branches of HSBC and Citibank threatening up to seven years’ jail for any dealings with the billionaire' s accounts in the city.
A handful of Beijing supporters celebrated the paper's demise with champagne and a "Fake News" banner in front of its headquarters.
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