CHINA-HONGKONG: HONGKONG'S INDEPENDENT 'APPLE DAILY' SHUTS DOWN ON JUNE 24
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Hongkong's independent Apple Daily shut down on June 24 as the authorities refused to 'unfreeze' its assets. A day earlier the Hongkong Police arrested a columnist and lead opinion writer Yeung Ching-Kei – known under the pen name Li Ping. He has become the latest staff member arrested from the tabloid. On June 21, 2021-- The Committee to Protect Journalists said in New York, June 21, 2021-- The Committee to Protect Journalists today said in New York that it will honour Jimmy Lai, the imprisoned founder of Hong Kong’s Next Digital media company and Apple Daily newspaper, with the 2021 Gwen Ifill Press Freedom Award. In a statement, the EU said these freedoms are guaranteed in the Basic Law and should be respected. The British Foreign Secretary issued a statement that "The forced closure of Apple Daily by the Hong Kong authorities is a chilling blow to freedom of expression in Hong Kong". Reacting to these comments Chinese experts said "it's indeed the end of an era when foreign proxies and secessionist forces meddling in China's internal affairs in instigating the colour revolution in Hong Kong exit the political life for good".
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