Reader: Wait, they’ve arrested Steve Jobs? But how is that possible? Or is it Steve Wozniak? Why have they arrested Steve Woz-
It’s Apple Daily, dear reader, not Apple.
Reader: Oh, yes, of course. Apple Daily.
You have no idea what Apple Daily is, do you?
Reader: Nope.
Apple Daily is a tabloid-style newspaper in Hong Kong, dear reader. It is reportedly the second most read newspaper and news site in Hong Kong, and was listed as the third most trusted paid newspaper in the country last year by a university survey.
It has been described as a pro-democracy newspaper and is often critical of the Chinese government.
Why am I telling you all this? Well, because its founder, Jimmy Lai, was arrested on Monday (10 Aug) under the new national security law imposed by China.
Alleged Collusion With Foreign Forces
According to South China Morning Post, Lai was arrested for alleged collusion with foreign forces on Monday at his home, followed by the arrests of two of his sons and former student activist Agnes Chow Ting.
A few of Lai’s associates at Next Digital, Apple Daily’s parent company, were also arrested.
Some 200 officers were sent to Apple Daily’s premises where they conducted a raid that lasted nine hours.
Officers assert that they did not scrutinize or seize the journalists’ work, but they were seen leaving the building with stacks of documents in blue plastic boxes.
Considering Apple Daily’s pro-democracy stance, many believed that Lai was arrested for speaking out against China, but the official reason given for his arrest was “collusion with a foreign country, uttering seditious words and conspiracy to defraud”.
Wait, so who did he collude with?
Called For Sanctions Against Hong Kong
The authorities did not specify who Lai supposedly colluded with, but said that three of the suspects had been involved in a group to call for sanctions against Hong Kong by foreign countries.
Other suspects had allegedly helped foreign countries channel money in through an overseas bank account.
A spokesman for the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office in Beijing said it “resolutely backed” the newly-established national security unit’s decision to arrest Lai and his associates, calling them a “faction that subverts China and stir chaos in Hong Kong”.
“He brags about fighting for America arrogantly, taking part to plan, organise and initiate a raft of unlawful resistance movements, using his media to create and spread rumours, inciting and supporting violence, and providing funds for those advocating [Hong Kong independence]”, the spokesman said.
At this point, you might be a little confused. Why exactly are Hong Kong and China at odds?
A Brief History
To understand why, we’ll need a brief history lesson.