Jimmy Lai's Arrest Evokes Concerns, Calls For Action

The arrest of media tycoon Jimmy Lai and raid on the Apple Daily offices evoked strong response inside and outside Hong Kong, with many condemning the police action.

Taiwan Premier Su Tseng-chang led the calls urging the authorities to respect freedom and democracy in the SAR.

"China should not treat Hong Kong this way. Taiwan is paying very close attention to the situation in Hong Kong and cares about the people of Hong Kong," Su told reporters in Taipei.

"We still urge the Chinese government to keep its promise and respect Hong Kong's democracy and freedom."

Wang Dan, dissident and exiled student leader of the crushed 1989 Tiananmen Square protests, meanwhile urged the international community to take action.

"Although it was expected, the arrest of Jimmy Lai was still very outrageous because his two sons were also arrested, which was obviously an attempt by the authorities to destroy Lai's will through family ties," Wang said on Twitter.

"I call on the international community to take immediate action,” he said.

Lai's arrest, for suspected collusion with foreign forces, is the most high profile under the security legislation. The new law has been widely condemned by Western governments and international human rights groups, which say it will crush freedoms in Hong Kong.

"The arrest of media tycoon Jimmy Lai bears out the worst fears that Hong Kong's national security law would be used to suppress critical pro-democracy opinion and restrict press freedom," said Steven Butler, Asia programme co-ordinator of the US-based Committee to Protect Journalists.

In Hong Kong itself, people expressed concerns.

"I don't think they should be doing this," said 28-year-old Steven Chan, a clerk.

"After all, this is a media organisation, isn't it? Hong Kong claims to have freedom of the press, doesn't it? So I don't think they should search the media,” he said.

An office worker, Helen Wong, agreed. “This issue, I think it is very unreasonable – to arrest a person out of the blue," said the 40-year-old.

“Apple Daily is a news organisation that has many readers, whether it's the (online) platform or the newspaper – they are all fairly popular with the people,” she said.

“But being arrested like this, what has he actually done? A national security (crime)? But in fact, the law has made it clear that one should not be prosecuted for actions before the law was put in place."

Hu Xijin, editor-in-chief of the Global Times, which is published by the state-run People’s Daily, said the arrest of Lai shows Hong Kong government is not intimidated by US sanctions against some top officials in the city.

"The arrest reflects that the (HK government) wasn’t intimidated by US sanctions, which actually are pushing HK civil servants further to Beijing," Hu said on Twitter.

"In the future, the sanctions will also push the hearts and minds of entire HK society to the Chinese mainland, promoting China’s unity," he tweeted. (Reuters)