Euronews: Apple Daily issues final publication

On 25 June 2021, Benedict Rogers, Chief Executive of Hong Kong Watch spoke to Euronews about the closure of Apple Daily in Hong Kong.

The pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily was accused of colluding with foreign forces, particularly in advocating sanctions, and the editor and executives have been arrested before the closure.

Ben said: "The accusations launched against the Apple Daily are absurd and they illustrate both the ridiculousness and the danger of the draconian National Security imposed on Hong Kong by the CCP which basically destroys Hong Kong’s freedoms."

"It’s only a matter of time for those domestic media outlets that they will find it increasingly difficult to continue".

As for foreign correspondence, he said 'the outlook for journalists domestic and foreign in Hong Kong is increasing bleak,” as the whole trajectory of the situation in Hong Kong over the last year or two has been moving in the direction of turning Hong Kong into just another city of China under the CCP’s total control, in flagrant violation of an international agreement that was supposed to protect HK ‘s autonomy.