'World leaders should speak out for Jimmy Lai', Benedict Rogers

His newspaper 'Apple Daily' was shut down by Hong Kong authorities on June 24, 2021, and he remains in jail

Four years ago today, June 24, the printing presses of Hong Kong’s largest and most successful mass-circulation Chinese language pro-democracy daily newspaper, the Apple Daily, fell silent and its newsroom shut its doors.

When the lights were switched off in the Tseung Kwan O building, they were turned off not only for the newspaper founded by media entrepreneur and pro-democracy campaigner Jimmy Lai, but for media freedom itself in Hong Kong.

Since the forced closure of Apple Daily, almost all other independent media in the city — particularly Stand News and Citizen News — have shut down.

The previous night thousands of brave Hong Kongers lined the streets in order to purchase copies of the final edition of the Apple Daily. Supporters gathered outside the newspaper’s building, shouting slogans of support and flashing their mobile phone lights.

The newspaper’s brave reporters, photographers and other staff stood on the balcony, flashing phone lights in return. It was an emotional and inspirational moment that symbolized the bond between the newspaper and the Hong Kong people.

Exactly a week before, I filed what turned out to be my final column for the English-language online edition of the Apple Daily. For almost exactly a year, I had had the great privilege of writing a weekly column for the English version. Every Wednesday night, without fail, I would send in my article, and every Friday it would be published. Every Friday until June 18, 2021.

Late on Wednesday, June 16, I emailed my article, as usual. I reflected on some significant birthdays and anniversaries in the month of June, including those of Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmar’s democratically elected leader who has been in jail for the past four years, Uyghur prisoner Gulshan Abbas, who remains in a Xinjiang prison, and the birthdays of several prominent Hong Kong pro-democracy activists.

I also noted that in June, my mother, my nephew, and I celebrated our birthdays, in very different circumstances — in freedom, peace, joy and in the company of loved ones. And I highlighted the anniversaries of the June 2019 protests and the Tiananmen Square Massacre on June 4, 1989.

I concluded: “Let’s ensure that as we continue to remember and honor the protesters of June 2019 in Hong Kong, and those in prison for the cause of freedom today, we make these dates not simply as days of remembrance but days of action, in which we redouble our efforts to continue the fight for freedom — for everyone everywhere — so that one day, everyone can celebrate their birthdays as my mother, my nephew and I have done: in freedom, with loved ones, with joy and in peace, and not in prison, exile, separation or fear.”

When I wrote that article, it did not occur to me that one week later, another date would be added to the June calendar of anniversaries. In keeping with what I wrote in my final Apple Daily article, June 24 must now be a day of action for press freedom in Hong Kong.

In my almost three decades of journalism and activism, being invited to write for the Apple Daily was one of the greatest honors of my life.

I have had the privilege of contributing to some of the world’s most prestigious titles — The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Daily Telegraph, The Times, The Guardian, The Australian, Foreign Policy and The Spectator, among others — and of course this great publication, UCA News — but no outlet has made me feel more free in my writing than Apple Daily. When they asked me to write for them, they gave me no word limit and no restrictions. They never edited, limited or censored me. They simply asked that what I wrote be relevant to Hong Kongers.

And while editors I have worked with in London, New York, Washington, DC, Sydney and beyond are dedicated and hard-working, none faced the dangers that the Apple Daily editors in Hong Kong faced every day. Yet the spirit of Apple Daily was bold, like that of its founder. I remember when the newsroom was raided by police on Aug. 10, 2020, I messaged my editor and said if they thought I should stop contributing then, I would understand. Within minutes a reply came back along the lines of: “What are you talking about? It’s business as usual. Please keep writing for us.”

In the course of the year, I wrote broadly about democracy, freedom and human rights. Most of my commentary was directly about Hong Kong or wider China issues, but sometimes I wrote about other issues in the region, such as Myanmar or North Korea.

After I filed my weekly column late that night on June 16, I went to sleep. I awoke the next morning to the news that 500 police officers had raided the Apple Daily’s newsroom and arrested several of its senior editors. I messaged the editor I liaised with, to check if they were safe. They confirmed they were, and — true to the courageous Apple Daily spirit — they said they intended to continue “business as usual.” But they indicated that the article I had filed might not be published — and suggested I find another home for it.

They told me they hoped to resume normal publication activity the following week, but it was not to be. Within days, the Hong Kong authorities froze the assets and bank accounts of the parent company, Next Digital, making it impossible to pay for basic costs: salaries, printing ink and paper, electricity bills. The company had enough funds in the bank to survive for some time, but it could no longer access them. Being unable to pay its journalists, photographers, printers and utility bills — not because it could not afford to, but because it could not access its accounts — the publication had no choice but to shut down.

A week after I filed my last column, Apple Daily announced it was shutting down. It was a heartbreaking moment. Beijing and its quislings in the Hong Kong government had finally killed the Apple Daily.

On Apple Daily’s final day I had a last, brief and by necessity cautious exchange of farewell messages with my editor. I had never met my editor, but somehow through emails and WhatsApp messages I felt we had built a rapport. But on that last day, I knew — for their sake — I had to say goodbye. I wished them well, told them to stay safe, and said if they ever come to the UK — as thousands of Hong Kongers have — to get in touch. To my editor — I think you know who you are — if you do ever read this, and if you do ever leave Hong Kong, I’d love to hear from you: when it’s safe to do so.

Seven former staff members remain in detention and face life imprisonment under the National Security Law. According to Reporters Without Borders, in an effort to justify these charges, the authorities have labeled more than 160 articles, opinion pieces and videos published by Apple Daily as “criminal” under this draconian legislation.

Jimmy Lai, the newspaper’s founder and owner, has been in solitary confinement for more than 1,600 days — arrested and imprisoned six months before his publication was forced to close. He is 77 years old and in poor health, and has already served multiple prison sentences on trumped-up charges including 13 months for lighting a candle and saying a prayer at a vigil commemorating the 1989 Tiananmen Square Massacre. His current trial, under the draconian National Security Law, has already lasted over 140 days, far exceeding the initial 80-day schedule. With every day that passes, the risk that he will die in prison increases.

World leaders everywhere should speak out — for Jimmy Lai and all journalists imprisoned in Hong Kong.

US President Donald Trump, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, French President Emmanuel Macron and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba all have particular reason to take an interest, as Lai owned properties and had extensive business interests in their countries.

But there are two world leaders today who should take a special interest: Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and Pope Leo XIV.

Why?

Because Lai is a British citizen and a devout Catholic.

Starmer should respond to repeated requests from Lai’s son Sebastien Lai,for a meeting and should step up UK efforts to secure Lai’s release.

And Pope Leo XIV should grant Sebastien a private audience — and pray publicly for Lai’s freedom.

One of the first speeches the new pope gave was to the Vatican press corps, and he focused on media freedom. The United Kingdom has championed this particular right in recent years, pioneering the global Media Freedom Coalition.

So when a British Catholic is in jail in Hong Kong for publishing a newspaper, is it not time for the UK and the Vatican to join hands and speak out with one voice, loudly, clearly, and repeatedly: #FreeJimmyLai. And of course, at the same time, free all #HongKong journalists.

Today was the day Apple Daily died. But instead of it being a day for commemorative songs of the American Pie or the Video Killed the Radio Star sort, let it be a day of action — to free those who founded, created and so courageously sustained it, and to work towards a day when Hong Kong and all of China can be free. That is what Jimmy Lai would want.

This article was published in UCA News on 24 June 2025.