Responding to the arrests of current and former senior executives and board members of Hong Kong media outlet Stand News for alleged “seditious publication” this morning, Amnesty International’s Deputy Secretary General Kyle Ward said:

“The relentless campaign against press freedom in Hong Kong continues with the stunning early-morning police raid and arrests of senior executives of outspoken media outlet Stand News.”

“Authorities continue to weaponize Hong Kong’s legal system by invoking a colonial-era law of ‘seditious publication’. Also suggesting that articles might be ‘inciting secession’.”

“It is farcical that the government continues to claim that the arrests are in line with the ICCPR when international human rights standards clearly state that freedom of expression, whether in the name of ‘national security’ or otherwise, can only be lawfully restricted in a proportionate and clearly defined manner, instead of criminalizing a politically selected range of non-violent activities. Justifications given by authorities so far have not demonstrated that the threshold for restriction has been met.”

“The arrests, seizing of journalistic materials and freezing of assets have an immediate chilling effect with Stand News announcing that it will cease operations. This is sadly not unexpected and continues the downwards spiral for press freedom in Hong Kong.”

“All the media workers arrested today solely for doing their legitimate journalistic work must be immediately released.

Background

This morning, current and former executives of Stand News were arrested for “seditious publications” under Article 9 and 10 of the Crimes Ordinance, an archaic colonial-era provision last amended in the 1970s. According to media reports, over 200 national security police officers raided the online news outlet and authorities have confirmed that they have frozen over HK$61 million (ca. US$ 7.8 million) in assets.

Stand News has since announced that they have ceased operations.

Those arrested include former editor-in-chief Chung Pui-kuen, current editor-in-chief Patrick Lam, former board member and lawmaker Margaret Ng, former board member Christine Fong, Chow Tat-chi and pop singer and former board member Denise Ho.

Yesterday, executives of the now-defunct Apple Daily also faced the additional charge of “seditious publications”.