Hong Kong police have arrested six current or former senior staff from an online media firm “for conspiracy to publish seditious publication”, in the latest crackdown on independent press in the territory.
The arrests happened early Wednesday and searches of their residences were underway, police said.
Hong Kong broadcaster TVB said the six were from pro-democracy news website Stand News. A Reuters witness saw at least four police vans outside the media firm’s office.
Police said in a statement that they had arrested three men and three women, aged 34 to 73, and that searches of their homes were underway.
Stand News said one of those arrested was Ronson Chan, its deputy assignment editor who is also the head of the Hong Kong Journalists Association. The news site posted a video of police arriving at Chan’s residence and showing their court warrant.
“The charge was conspiracy to publish seditious publications. This is the court warrant and this is my warrant card. Your phone is obstructing our work,” an officer is seen saying.
In June, hundreds of police raided the premises of the pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily, arresting executives for alleged “collusion with a foreign country”.
The newspaper subsequently shut down.
The raids come 18 months after the National Security Law was enacted, criminalising secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces.
As a result, political opposition has been largely crushed, pro-democracy newspapers have been forced to close or self-censor, political and advocacy groups have disbanded. Thousands of residents have fled overseas.
Last week, sculptures and other artwork that supported democracy and memorialized the victims of China’s crackdown on democracy protesters at Beijing’s Tiananmen Square in 1989 were removed from universities in Hong Kong.
This is a developing story, please check back for updates…
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With Reuters
