By Mackenzie Hastie
As Hong Kong’s freedoms continue to be stripped from it, Chinese authorities have begun to conduct raids on media outlets that push different viewpoints from that of the Pro-Beijing camp.
On Monday the 10th, Chinese national security police arrested pro-democrat media mogul Jimmy Lai for alleged collusion with ‘foreign forces’, a crime under the recent national security law.
Soon after the arrest was made, police began an organised raid on a paper owned by him named ‘The Apple Daily’.
During the raid, journalists and other staffers were followed everywhere they went and Jimmy Lai was paraded through the Newsroom by police in an effort to use scare tactics.
“When I saw my boss being handcuffed and led away, I felt so heartbroken and helpless. I feel so angry..”
Zoe* (Quote sourced from https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/aug/12/hong-kongs-independent-press-faces-dark-chapter-in-chinas-shadow written by Lily Kuo & Verna Yu)
*Not their real name
Veteran Journalist Mak Yin Ting described the situation as China “seeing the role of the media as to serve the regime” as it turns this view on the Hong Kong press.
However, despite the Chinese authorities efforts, the scare tactics did not succeed as journalists returned to work the next day to print “five times as many copies” with civilians rushing to buy copies of the paper.
Jimmy Lai said this about the situation:
“I’m prepared for prison,” the 72-year-old said. “If it comes, I will have the opportunity to read books I haven’t read. The only thing I can do is to be positive.”
Jimmy Lai. (Quote sourced from https://hongkongfp.com/2020/08/10/breaking-pro-democracy-media-mogul-jimmy-lai-arrested-under-hong-kong-security-law-sources/ written by AFP)
Jimmy Lai was bailed 40 hours later.
In a seperate incident, well known 23 year old political activist Agnes Chow was arrested by authorities.
The move has been labelled as ‘political purge’ with Ms Chow arrested for ‘colluding with foreign forces’.
She is also being charged with inciting secession.
Currently having been released on bail, Ms Chow has seen a wave of support with the hashtag #FreeAgnesChow
Supporters have taken to calling her ‘The True Mulan’ in reference to the legendary heroine, taking a swing at actress Liu Yifei who plays Mulan in the upcoming live-action Disney remake for her support of the CCP.
If convicted, Agnes Chow can potentially face up to life in prison.