31 European Parliamentarians condemn the closing of Apple Daily newspaper and call on Carrie Lam to release all the journalists arrested under the National Security Law

Today, a cross-party group of 31 European Parliamentarians led by Engin Eroglu MEP have written to the Hong Kong Chief Executive, Carrie Lam, to decry the shutting of Apple Daily newspaper and the arrest of five Apple Daily journalists under the National Security Law.

The letter notes that ‘the recent arrests mark the first time that journalists have been arrested under the National Security Law and the second time the Hong Kong Police force has raided the offices of Apple Daily.’

European parliamentarians in the letter state that these arrests ‘constitute an assault on the freedom of the press and undermine Hong Kong’s reputation as an open international city’ and that the decision by the authorities to close Apple Daily by starving it of resources ‘will be met with international condemnation and have a long-term impact on foreign investment into the city.’

The parliamentary signatories in the letter urge the Hong Kong Chief Executive to ‘unfreeze Apple Daily’s assets’, ‘to release the journalists arrested and drop all national security charges, including those against Jimmy Lai, the owner of Apple Daily, and Next Digital executives’.

It concludes by reminding the Hong Kong Chief Executive of her ‘obligation to uphold Hong Kong’s Basic Law and protect the rights and freedoms of the people of Hong Kong, including their right to a free press.’

The full letter can be found here