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Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam said on Tuesday the media should not “subvert” the government because it rejects US criticism of the recent action against the city’s largest pro-democracy newspaper, Apple Daily , under a controversial new security law.
Chief Executive Lam responded to the criticism saying it was an attempt to “embellish” acts that endanger national security.
“Don’t try to downplay the importance of breaking the national security law,” Lam said. “Do not try to embellish these acts endangering national security.”
Last week, hundreds of officers raided Apple Daily as part of a national security investigation in which senior executives of the newspaper were arrested on allegations of collusion with a foreign country.
Authorities also froze the assets of Apple Daily worth HK $ 18 million (roughly $ 2.3 billion, or $ 1.9 billion) using the National Security Law imposed on the city under Chinese control via Beijing in 2020. The legislature led by Lam did not approve it, despite its support. .
The newspaper said on Monday it was considering the shutdown and would make a decision later in the week.
A freer press in Hong Kong, at least to this day
Lam made the statements during his weekly press conference. She pointed to criticism of the United States, telling reporters the accusations were wrong and were applying double standards.
State Department spokesman Ned Price said the United States is deeply concerned about the “selective” and “politically motivated” use of the security law.
Several rights groups have also condemned the action against Apple Daily and expressed concerns about press freedom in Hong Kong.
“And don’t try to accuse the Hong Kong authorities of using the National Security Act as a tool to suppress the media or to stifle free speech,” Lam said.
While the press is largely state-owned and heavily censored in mainland China, protections for free speech are included in Hong Kong’s semi-autonomous mini-constitution.
But Beijing’s new national security law has criminalized a wide range of political opinions, and the action against Apple Daily has left the media wondering what report might trigger an investigation.
“It is not a problem to criticize the Hong Kong government, but if there is an intention to organize activities to incite government subversion, then that is, of course, a different thing,” Lam said. “Media friends should have the ability to tell them apart.”
dvv / msh (AFP, Reuters)
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