During the operation on Wednesday, Hong Kong Police raided the house of Hong Kong Journalists Association president Ronson Chan
In an early morning raid on Wednesday, Hong Kong‘s national security police arrested at least six current and former staffers of Stand News for alleged “conspiracy to publish seditious publication,” according to the region’s administration.
The government said in a statement that approximately 200 police officers were sent to raid Stand News’s headquarters in Kwun Tong, and that the operation involved searching for and seizing important journalistic materials.
Hong Kong Police also raided HKJA head Ronson Chan
Hong Kong Police also raided the home of Hong Kong Journalists Association head Ronson Chan during the operation on Wednesday. Chan also works at Stand News as a deputy assignment editor.
The arrest occurred one day after the Hong Kong Journalists Association celebrated its 53rd anniversary, with head Ronson Chan declaring: “Press freedom is the backbone of Hong Kong’s success… Hong Kong needs truths and reporters…
“HKJA will not submit to the unknown that lies ahead. We can’t think of anything else. We only ask that individuals who support HKJA continue to offer us even the tiniest bit of encouragement. This is our wish for all of you,” an association member said.
Apple Daily executive also charged with the same offence
The arrests come just a day after Jimmy Lai and six other top Apple Daily executives were accused with the same offence. Hong Kong Police raided the Apple Daily newspaper’s office in June this year and arrested five executives, and in August 2020, a similar raid was done along with the arrest of Apple Daily’s founder Jimmy Lai.
It is imperative to mention here that Stand News is also prohibited from publishing any articles or information as a result of the arrest warrant.
The pro-democracy media outlet was founded on December 30, 2014. Its predecessor, content aggregator House News, shut down in July 2014, citing political threats against founder Tony Tsoi and his family as the reason.