Hong Kong – The police chief of Hong Kong has been suspended from duty pending an investigation into a raid on the offices of a pro-democracy newspaper. The raid was widely condemned as an attack on press freedom.
The raid on the offices of the Apple Daily newspaper took place on June 17, 2021. Police arrested five staff members, including the editor-in-chief, and froze the company’s assets. The raid was carried out under the National Security Law, a controversial law that was passed in 2020.
The National Security Law has been used to crack down on dissent in Hong Kong. The law has been criticized by human rights groups and foreign governments, who say that it is being used to stifle free speech and assembly.
The raid on the Apple Daily newspaper was the latest in a series of attacks on the press in Hong Kong. Several other pro-democracy newspapers have been forced to close in recent months, and many journalists have been arrested.
The suspension of the police chief is a sign that the Hong Kong government is facing increasing pressure over its crackdown on dissent. However, it remains to be seen whether the investigation into the raid on the Apple Daily newspaper will lead to any meaningful changes.
The suspension of the police chief is a welcome development, but it is important to remember that this is just a first step. The Hong Kong government must do more to protect press freedom and to uphold the Basic Law. The people of Hong Kong deserve to live in a society where dissent is tolerated and where journalists are free to report the truth.
