Hong Kong: Stand News arrests are the latest crystal clear sign of the demise of freedom – Scotsman comment

By Scotsman comment
Published 30th Dec 2021, 12:30 BST
Comment
Stand News editor-in-chief Patrick Lam is taken away after police searched the offices of the independent news outlet in Hong Kong (Picture: Anthony Kwan/Getty Images)Stand News editor-in-chief Patrick Lam is taken away after police searched the offices of the independent news outlet in Hong Kong (Picture: Anthony Kwan/Getty Images)
Stand News editor-in-chief Patrick Lam is taken away after police searched the offices of the independent news outlet in Hong Kong (Picture: Anthony Kwan/Getty Images)
The mission statement of Hong Kong-based Stand News declared that it “strives to safeguard Hong Kong’s core values of democracy, human rights, rule of law and justice”.

Yesterday, the authorities in China made clear their core values are diametrically opposed to those fine ideals as police raided the media company’s offices and detained seven current and former employees for “conspiracy to publish seditious publications”. As a result, Stand News said it was “ceasing operations immediately” and all staff were dismissed.

Police claimed Stand News had published articles that incited hatred against the authorities, for example by reporting claims the Communist Party had extended its powers through the city’s courts and that pro-democracy demonstrators had gone missing or been sexually harassed.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad