![]() Screenshot from Ronson Chan's live stream of the police raid on his home. | |
Date | 29 December 2021 |
---|---|
Location | Hong Kong |
Target | Stand News |
Outcome | Publication ceased, staff dismissed |
Arrests | 6 |
Charges | Conspiracy to publish seditious publications |
On 29 December 2021, Stand News , one of the few remaining pro-democracy media outlets in Hong Kong following the passage of the Hong Kong national security law in 2020, was raided by the National Security Department of the Hong Kong Police Force. Media executives and journalists were arrested on the charge of "conspiring to publish seditious publications" on a large scale. [1] As a result of the raid, Stand News ceased operations, the organisation's website and social media became inactive, and all its employees were dismissed. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, along with leaders in Canada, Germany, the United Kingdom and United States, condemned the raid. [2]
Imposed by China in June 2020, the Hong Kong national security law grants widespread powers against media organisations who publish content deemed to encourage secession of Hong Kong from China, collusion with foreign powers, or subversion of the central government. [3] Under the law, police can require publishers to remove any content that the police think is likely to constitute an offence; if the publisher does not co-operate immediately, the police can seize equipment and remove the content themselves. [4] [5]
On 17 June 2021, the National Security Department of the Hong Kong police arrested five senior executives of the tabloid newspaper Apple Daily , on suspicion of "conspiracy to colluding with foreign forces" in violation of the national security law. [6] After Apple Daily was closed on 24 June, the online news provider Stand News announced on 27 June that it would be removing from its website some articles that had been published before May, and that it would stop accepting donations (to avoid loss in case its financial accounts were frozen). [7] At the same time, six people including former legislator Margaret Ng and singer Denise Ho resigned as board members, and news editing continued to operate. [7] [8]
Prior to that, the government had initiated a review of operations at RTHK, Hong Kong's public broadcaster, [9] that led in February 2021 to a report on RTHK's governance and management, criticising it of having "weak editorial accountability" [10] Director of Broadcasting Leung Ka-wing was removed from his post six months prior to the expiry of his contract, and replaced by a career civil servant with no experience in broadcasting. [10] [11]
On 3 December, Secretary for Security Chris Tang criticised Stand News at the press conference of the Fight Crime Committee meeting, stating the organisation published its report on the smart prison [12] of the Tai Tam Gap Correctional Institution to "demonise" the prison. He said that any person or organisation with "intent and an action to commit an offence" would be subject to investigation, and be charged and arrested if evidence were available. [13] In response to Tang's remarks, the editorial department of Stand News stated that it would insist on reporting the truth, believing that "only sufficient freedom of speech and press freedom and exchanges of diverse views could help society progress and maintain long-term stability."[ This quote needs a citation ]
At 6 a.m., on 29 December 2021, the National Security Department of the Hong Kong Police Force arrested six senior staff members of Stand News , including the former editor-in-chief Chung Pui-kuen, former legislator Margaret Ng, singer and activist Denise Ho, Chow Tat-chi and Christine Fang, accusing them of "conspiracy to publish seditious publications". [14] [15] Editor-in-chief Patrick Lam was also arrested at his home, [16] and his computer, tablet computer, phone, press book and travel documents were seized. [17] Editor and Hong Kong Journalists Association chairman Ronson Chan was also taken by police for questioning, but released hours later. [18] [19] Officers from the national security unit searched the premises of the arrested persons. At 7 a.m., the police alleged that they were suspected of violating Sections 9 and 10 of the Crimes Ordinance, "the crime of conspiracy to publish seditious publications", but did not explain when or which report was involved. [20] Lam later resigned as editor-in-chief. [21]
Chan live-streamed the police raid on his home on the Stand News Facebook page. He recorded a police officer holding a court warrant issued by acting magistrate Peter Law and asking to enter his residence for a search. The police ordered Chan to stop recording, or be charged with obstructing a police officer. [18] At the same time, from 8 a.m., nearly 200 police cordoned, raided, and searched the headquarters of Stand News in Kwun Tong. Reporters were not allowed to enter or remain in the building. [19]
In addition, Chan Pui-man, the former deputy director of Apple Daily, who was charged for violating the national security law and is currently remanded at Tai Lam Centre for Women, was also arrested for publishing seditious publications for Stand News. Chan is the wife of Chung Pui-kuen, who had previously been arrested by the National Security Department of the police unit in June 2021 for conspiracy to collude with foreign forces; her case was postponed until 24 February 2022. [22]
After the raid finishes, Lam once looked at the reporter and wanted to speak, but the police officer pressed his head and brought a police car. [20] By 12 p.m., Hong Kong police seized a number of computers, electronic equipment, some documents, telephones, HK$500,000 in cash, and about 33 boxes of evidence from the office, and loaded them into a truck and took them away. [23] [24] The police also asked Stand News to delete 5 articles in a short period of time, including the report on the second anniversary of the siege of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, an exclusive interview with former Stand News reporter Gwyneth Ho, who participated in the pro-democracy primary election, and Hong Kong citizens supporting the patriotism. It also includes about Chow Hang-tung, vice chairman of the Hong Kong Alliance, was awarded the China Outstanding Democracy Award and other reports. [25] On the other hand, Denise Ho's Facebook page posted a message on her special page to report safety, expressing that she was fine and asks the followers not to worry. Hong Kong police also froze HK$61 million in assets related to Stand News, the largest amount frozen since the national security law was implemented. [26]
At 4 p.m., Senior Hong Kong Superintendent of the national security unit, Steve Li Kwai-wah, said in a press briefing after the arrests, [25] accusing Stand News of conspiring to publish a number of “seditious articles” [27] and news reports that inciting hatred against Hong Kong government and the Hong Kong legal system. [28] He cited a number of examples of "seditious articles", including describing protesters who opposed the extradition bill amendment campaign as "disappeared" and "violated", riot police "shooting" in siege at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, [25] unintended interrogation was "a blatant abuse of power by the CCP" [29] and called it an "example" of incitement and fake news. Some of the articles are blogs or exclusive interviews of arrested persons or fugitives, and are used for inciting secession or subversion of state power, calling for sanctions on the Hong Kong and Chinese government. [28]
During this raid, Stand News was accused of at least 20 inflammatory reports and blog articles for violating national security law, including the second anniversary of the siege at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, interviews with Gwyneth Ho in prison, Chow Hang-tung won the "China Outstanding Democracy Award", smart prisons and other reports. [28] [30] Li also stated that there are blog articles that he will hold several rallies, set up delegations to lobby in different countries, and write several sanctions lists, etc. [28] In addition, he said during the briefing that the police were investigating whether the purpose of the funds was to establish a branch of Stand News in the United Kingdom, and whether the organization had colluded with foreign forces and violated the national security law. [31]
At 11 p.m., Stand News removed all content on various websites and social media. Its website posted a closure announcement, stating that Stand News reiterated its independence and adherence to the core values of Hong Kong's editorial policy, and thanked readers for their support. [32]
Also on the same day, a source told The Standard that additional persons were on the police wanted list, including director Tony Tsoi and former director Joseph Lian. [33]
On 30 December, one day after the initial raid in Hong Kong, the Stand News branch office in the United Kingdom also ceased operations. [34]
Magistrate Peter Law of the West Kowloon Magistrates Court denied bail for Chung Pui-keun and Patrick Lam. Four others—Margaret Ng, Denise Ho, Chow Tat-chi, and Christine Fang—were not charged but released on bail pending further investigation. [35]
Days after Stand News was forced to close, Citizen News – another independent, crowdfunded, Chinese-language news outlet – announced that it would cease publication in order to protect the safety of its staff. Citizen News had also been a recent target of government criticism. [61]
A third news outlet, Mad Dog Daily, announced its closure for the same reason shortly thereafter. The publisher of Mad Dog Daily, which originated as a newspaper founded in 1996, stated that if Stand News pieces were considered "seditious" by the authorities, then Mad Dog Daily's content would "definitely" be as well. [62]