Lights out at Apple Daily: Hongkongers queue for hours to buy newspaper’s final issue, as latest national security law arrest pulls plug on operations
- Supporters flock in their droves to newsstands in early hours of Thursday as the final edition of Apple Daily is printed
- 1 million copies in circulation as last print run draws applause and tears at newspaper’s headquarters
As queues of customers stretched outside newsstands across Hong Kong, a round of applause erupted in the Apple Daily newsroom at 11.45pm to mark executive editor-in-chief Lam Man-chung sending off the last issue of the newspaper to the printing press.
“Keep it up, Apple Daily! Keep it up, Hong Kong!” staff chanted, as the paper’s followers outside its Tseung Kwan O headquarters whistled and clapped in support.
Several offices in the building could be seen descending into darkness as the media operation wound down for good.
In Mong Kok, hundreds of supporters started queuing as early as 10pm to get their hands on Apple Daily’s swansong issue, which eventually arrived at newspaper stands at about 12.55am. By midnight, dozens of people were queuing at a newsstand on Argyle Street.
