Chaini Parwani
Published On: January 01, 2022 at 12:19 IST
A Hong Kong Court denied the Bail Plea of former Senior Editors against publishing Seditious Articles after a police raid at Stand News, a pro-democracy media outlet, prompting its closure.
It was highlighted that 200 officers raided the office of the online publication and froze its Assets further arresting seven current and Former Senior Editors and Former Board Members.
A Magistrate at West Kowloon Court denied Bail Plea for the Former Stand News Chief Editor Chung Pui-kuen and the acting Chief Editor, Patrick Lam.
Further Four former members of the Stand News board – Margaret Ng, Denise Ho, and Chow Tat-chi and Christine Fang were released on Police Bail pending further Probe.
Furthermore, the US secretary of state, Antony Blinken stated “We call on PRC [People’s Republic of China] and Hong Kong authorities to cease targeting Hong Kong’s free and independent media and to immediately release those journalists and media executives who have been unjustly detained and charged.”
Antony Blinken further added that a confident Government which is not afraid of the truth can embrace a free press.
Stand announced its closure and highlighted that all its staff members are dismissed and that the News Site and all Social Media are erased.
A Non Profit Outlet, Stand News was founded in 2014 in the wake of the city’s pro-democracy umbrella movement. It was known internationally for its live streams during the months of pro-democracy protests that rocked the city in 2019.