Britain on Wednesday blasted China for using a new national security law to stifle free speech in Hong Kong after the closure of pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily.

"The forced closure of Apple Daily by the Hong Kong authorities is a chilling blow to freedom of expression in Hong Kong," Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said in a statement.

"It is crystal clear that the powers under the National Security Law are being used as a tool to curtail freedoms and punish dissent -- rather than keep public order," he said, demanding China respect its obligations over Hong Kong's 1997 handover from UK rule.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/under-pressure-hong-kongs-pro-democracy-publication-apple-daily-announces-closure-393323" hreflang="en">Hong Kong's pro-democracy publication Apple Daily announces closure</a>

Media advocacy groups believe that the&nbsp;closure of&nbsp;Apple&nbsp;Daily&nbsp;would undermine the former British colony's reputation as an open and free society and send a warning to other companies that could be accused of colluding with a foreign country.

The newspaper said on Sunday the freezing of its assets had left it with cash for "a few weeks" for normal operations.

Chief Editor Ryan Law, 47, and Chief Executive Cheung Kim-hung, 59, were denied bail on Saturday after being charged with conspiracy to commit collusion with a foreign country.

Three other executives were arrested on Thursday when 500 police officers raided the newspaper's offices, drawing condemnation from Western countries, global rights groups, and the UN&nbsp;spokesperson for human rights.

Those three are still under investigation but were released with bail.

Security Secretary John Lee told a news conference on Thursday the police operation against the&nbsp;Apple&nbsp;Daily&nbsp;was aimed at those who use reporting as a "tool" to endanger national security and did not target the media industry as a whole.

Hong Kong's Security Bureau said it would not comment given ongoing legal proceedings and any application related to the frozen property would be handled according to the law.

Rights group Amnesty International said on Twitter that this is "effectively a Hong Kong government ban of a newspaper."

The paper has come under increasing pressure since owner and Beijing critic Lai, who is now in jail, was arrested under the national security law last August and has since had some of his assets frozen.

(With inputs from agencies)

Britain on Wednesday blasted China for using a new national security law to stifle free speech in Hong Kong after the closure of pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily.

Britain on Wednesday blasted China for using a new national security law to stifle free speech in Hong Kong after the closure of pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily. "The forced closure of Apple Daily by the Hong Kong authorities is a chilling blow to freedom of expression in Hong Kong," Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said in a statement. "It is crystal clear that the powers under the National Security Law are being used as a tool to curtail freedoms and punish dissent -- rather than keep public order," he said, demanding China respect its obligations over Hong Kong's 1997 handover from UK rule. Also read| Hong Kong's pro-democracy publication Apple Daily announces closure Media advocacy groups believe that the closure of Apple Daily would undermine the former British colony's reputation as an open and free society and send a warning to other companies that could be accused of colluding with a foreign country. The newspaper said on Sunday the freezing of its assets had left it with cash for "a few weeks" for normal operations. Chief Editor Ryan Law, 47, and Chief Executive Cheung Kim-hung, 59, were denied bail on Saturday after being charged with conspiracy to commit collusion with a foreign country. Three other executives were arrested on Thursday when 500 police officers raided the newspaper's offices, drawing condemnation from Western countries, global rights groups, and the UN spokesperson for human rights. Those three are still under investigation but were released with bail. Security Secretary John Lee told a news conference on Thursday the police operation against the Apple Daily was aimed at those who use reporting as a "tool" to endanger national security and did not target the media industry as a whole. Hong Kong's Security Bureau said it would not comment given ongoing legal proceedings and any application related to the frozen property would be handled according to the law. Rights group Amnesty International said on Twitter that this is "effectively a Hong Kong government ban of a newspaper." The paper has come under increasing pressure since owner and Beijing critic Lai, who is now in jail, was arrested under the national security law last August and has since had some of his assets frozen. (With inputs from agencies)

UK slams China for stifling dissent after Apple Daily announces closure

Hong Kong’s outspoken pro-democracy publication Apple Daily announced its closure on Wednesday. The newspaper added&nbsp;that its final edition would be published “no later than Saturday” after it received&nbsp;confirmation from the&nbsp;board.

Recently, police froze Apple Daily's&nbsp;accounts and arrested staff members under the new security law, forcing the publication to cease operations.

"Due to the current circumstances prevailing in Hong Kong, Apple Daily in its print form will come to an end no later than the last edition on Saturday 26 June 2021 and the digital version will no longer be accessible no later than 11:59pm on Saturday 26 June 2021," AFP cited the paper's board as saying in a statement.

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Another arrest on the same day for Apple Daily

On the same day, the lead editorial writer of Apple Daily was arrested under the security law. Just a few days earlier, five executives of the Daily were arrested by the police. According to AFP, the man who wrote columns for Apple Daily under the pseudonym Li Ping was arrested "on suspicion of colluding with foreign forces to endanger national security".

Apple Daily said that Li Peng was one of its top columnists and the lead writer of their editorials. Over the last five years, he had written nearly 800 commentaries. The last one published on Tuesday focused on academic freedoms in mainland China.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/hong-kong-police-arrest-apple-daily-columnist-under-security-law-393292" hreflang="en">Hong Kong police arrest Apple Daily columnist under security law</a>

The publication has stood against Beijing for the longest time - reporting on China’s authoritarian leaders and extending support to Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement.

Apple Daily: A witch hunt by Beijing?

Apple Daily’s owner Jimmy Lai is currently in jail and was among the first to be charged under the security law which was imposed in Hong Kong after 2019’s huge democracy protests.

Last Thursday, Apple Daily’s office was raided by 500 police officers for articles and articles that could invite sanctions from China. Five executives of the newspaper including chief editor Ryan Law and CEO Cheung Kim-hung were arrested for allegedly “colluding with foreign forces”. They were officially charged on Saturday.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/hong-kong-leader-lam-says-action-against-apple-daily-does-not-target-press-freedom-393069" hreflang="en">Hong Kong leader Lam says action against Apple Daily does not target press freedom</a>

In addition, asserts worth $2.3 million (HK $1.8 million) owned by Apple Daily were frozen using the security law, without which the newspaper couldn’t have continued publishing. 
 
The security law was imposed on Hong Kong in June 2020 and allows authorities to freeze assets of any people or companies that are seen as a security threat without a court order.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/we-must-press-on-two-apple-daily-executives-charged-in-hong-kong-under-chinas-security-law-392392" hreflang="en">'We must press on': Two Apple Daily executives charged in Hong Kong under China's security law</a>

Hong Kong’s outspoken pro-democracy publication Apple Daily announced its closure on Wednesday. The newspaper added that its final edition would be published “no later than Saturday” after it received confirmation from the board.

Hong Kong’s outspoken pro-democracy publication Apple Daily announced its closure on Wednesday. The newspaper added that its final edition would be published “no later than Saturday” after it received confirmation from the board. Recently, police froze Apple Daily's accounts and arrested staff members under the new security law, forcing the publication to cease operations. "Due to the current circumstances prevailing in Hong Kong, Apple Daily in its print form will come to an end no later than the last edition on Saturday 26 June 2021 and the digital version will no longer be accessible no later than 11:59pm on Saturday 26 June 2021," AFP cited the paper's board as saying in a statement. Another arrest on the same day for Apple Daily On the same day, the lead editorial writer of Apple Daily was arrested under the security law. Just a few days earlier, five executives of the Daily were arrested by the police. According to AFP, the man who wrote columns for Apple Daily under the pseudonym Li Ping was arrested "on suspicion of colluding with foreign forces to endanger national security". Apple Daily said that Li Peng was one of its top columnists and the lead writer of their editorials. Over the last five years, he had written nearly 800 commentaries. The last one published on Tuesday focused on academic freedoms in mainland China. Also read: Hong Kong police arrest Apple Daily columnist under security law The publication has stood against Beijing for the longest time - reporting on China’s authoritarian leaders and extending support to Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement. Apple Daily: A witch hunt by Beijing? Apple Daily’s owner Jimmy Lai is currently in jail and was among the first to be charged under the security law which was imposed in Hong Kong after 2019’s huge democracy protests. Last Thursday, Apple Daily’s office was raided by 500 police officers for articles and articles that could invite sanctions from China. Five executives of the newspaper including chief editor Ryan Law and CEO Cheung Kim-hung were arrested for allegedly “colluding with foreign forces”. They were officially charged on Saturday. Also read: Hong Kong leader Lam says action against Apple Daily does not target press freedom In addition, asserts worth $2.3 million (HK $1.8 million) owned by Apple Daily were frozen using the security law, without which the newspaper couldn’t have continued publishing. The security law was imposed on Hong Kong in June 2020 and allows authorities to freeze assets of any people or companies that are seen as a security threat without a court order. Also read: 'We must press on': Two Apple Daily executives charged in Hong Kong under China's security law

Under pressure, Hong Kong's pro-democracy publication Apple Daily announces closure

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UK slams China for stifling dissent after Apple Daily announces closure

Under pressure, Hong Kong's pro-democracy publication Apple Daily announces closure