Jimmy Lai, a strident critic of the Chinese communist regime, was arrested in Hong Kong on August 10, along with his two sons, on allegations of collusion with foreign forces. Later that day, more than 200 police officers raided the newsroom of Lai’s newspaper Apple Daily, the largest pro-democracy outlet in the city.
Several other media and pro-democracy figures were also arrested on Monday, including prominent activist Agnes Chow. Police later said nine men and one woman were arrested, without naming them.
Lai’s arrest ‘bears out the worst fears that Hong Kong’s National Security Law would be used to suppress critical pro-democracy opinion and restrict press freedom’, said Steven Butler, the Committee to Protect Journalists’ Asia program coordinator.
You can read Cathy He’s analysis for the Epoch Times here.
