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Hong Kong national security law: ex-Apple Daily publisher denied bail after prosecutors cite statements from US, UK as evidence of collusion
- The two governments had previously criticised the national security law and condemned Apple Daily’s closure
- Judge says she is unconvinced Cheung Kim-hung ‘will not continue to commit acts endangering national security if bail is granted’
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A former executive of the now defunct Apple Daily newspaper was denied bail in his national security law trial after Hong Kong prosecutors cited remarks by the US State Department and a British official as evidence of foreign collusion.
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Reasoning for the decision handed down by the High Court on Wednesday detailed prosecutors’ objection to temporarily releasing former publisher Cheung Kim-hung due to what they characterised as his “close association with the USA and foreign political groups”, and his alleged ties with the remaining Taiwanese operations of the tabloid-style paper’s parent company, Next Digital.
Cheung is one of six former Apple Daily executives and editorial figures arrested and charged on suspicion of colluding with foreign forces under the Beijing-imposed security law.
Prosecutors have accused them of conspiring with media tycoon and Apple Daily founder Jimmy Lai Chee-ying – also awaiting trial on security law charges – to call for the imposition of “sanctions or blockades, or engage in other hostile activities” against the city or mainland China in conjunction with other subsidiaries of Next Digital.
The newspaper was forced to shut down in June following the arrests, and Next Digital is currently under investigation.
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