Five executives of Apple Daily arrested on national security charges, shutdown of paper 'can't be ruled out'

Police escort deputy chief editor Chan Pui Man (C) from the Apple Daily newspaper offices in Hong Kong on June 17, 2021. - AFP

GLOBAL TIMES: The latest arrest of the editor-in-chief of the Apple Daily, along with four other senior executives of Next Digital - the parent company of the newspaper - and the freezing of assets worth millions would have a lasting effect, legal experts said, after Hong Kong police searched again the newspaper's office on Thursday, adding that the worst possible scenario for the paper, which has been in disguise as "fighter for freedom of speech," could be a complete shutdown.

The department for safeguarding the national security of the Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF) arrested the editor-in-chief and four directors on suspicion of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and froze HK$18 million ($2.3 million) in assets during a Thursday morning raid.