Nishka Srinivas Veluvali –
Published On: December 15, 2021 at 18:00 IST
The Hong Kong Court ordered Liquidation of the already – closed parent firm of the Apple Daily, the pre – democracy newspaper.
Apple Daily was closed down primarily this year, following the assets frozen by China using the National Security Law Imposed on Hong Kong to dismiss the difference of opinions.
The media tycoon and owner of the company, Jimmy Lai and many executives of the firm have been Remanded and Charged with for the forthright articles and columns published in their newspaper.
Hong Kong Government in September took an unexpected move by applying the dissolvement of the paper’s Parent company, Next Digital Limited, asserting it is the course of action for the Public Interest.
On Wednesday, 15 December 2021, High Court Judge Jack Wonk permitted the Government’s request after a lengthy Hearing which was not participated by Next Digital.
However, it is still not clear on how this Court Verdict will have the consequences on the Apple Daily’s Taiwan plant,that is functioning as a financially independent branch.
Jimmy Lai and the executives of the Apple Daily firm will have to face life Imprisonment if the charges put against them are proved.
Lai is already facing jail term for his involvement at democracy protests in these recent years.
On Monday, 13 December, Lai was awarded with additional 13 months Jail sentence for attending a vigil the previous year remembering the victims of the 1989 Tiananmen crackdown, the event which is banned by the Hong Kong authorities on the grounds of public health and security.
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