China dismisses concern for Hong Kong freedom after tabloid closure

[HONG KONG] China's foreign ministry on Friday rejected comments by US President Joe Biden that the closure of Hong Kong's Apple Daily newspaper signalled intensifying repression by Beijing in the semi-autonomous city.

Also on Friday, China approved the promotions of two officials in a move that critics said would further tighten Beijing's grip.

Hong Kong's security secretary John Lee was appointed chief secretary - the first time a security specialist has taken the number two position in the territory since its handover from British to Chinese rule in 1997.

In the reshuffle, Police Chief Chris Tang took over Mr Lee's position as security secretary following Mr Lee's promotion to chief secretary.

Known for his hawkish stance, Mr Lee had spearheaded the city's disciplinary forces, including the police, in the crackdown that has seen mass arrests of democratic activists and politicians.

"The promotion of John Lee and Chris Tang completes the swift and total transformation of Hong Kong into a police state," said Samuel Chu of the Hong Kong Democracy Council.

Mr Biden said on Thursday that Apple Daily's demise was a "sad day for media freedom". Other foreign officials also expressed concern that it represented a further stifling of freedoms in Hong Kong, a trade gateway and international financial centre.

Apple Daily had been a thorn in Beijing's side, mixing pro-democracy discourse with celebrity gossip and investigations of those in power. It was forced to end a 26-year run after authorities froze the company's funds.

Its closure follows the imposition of a national security law last year in response to huge pro-democracy protests in 2019.

Mr Biden called on Beijing to stop targetting the independent press and to release detained journalists and media executives.

"People in Hong Kong have the right to freedom of the press.

Instead, Beijing is denying basic liberties and assaulting Hong Kong's autonomy and democratic institutions," he said.

Apple Daily had been "a much-needed bastion of independent journalism in Hong Kong," Mr Biden said in a statement.

"Through arrests, threats, and forcing through a National Security Law that penalizes free speech, Beijing has insisted on wielding its power to suppress independent media and silence dissenting views," he said, vowing continued US support for the people of Hong Kong.

China's foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian dismissed the criticism at a news conference in Beijing on Friday.

"The US leader's position is factually baseless," Mr Zhao said.

Officials in Hong Kong and China have repeatedly said media freedoms are respected but not absolute, and cannot endanger national security.

The shutdown deals the most serious blow yet to Hong Kong's media freedoms and could potentially destroy the city's reputation as a media hub, advocacy groups say.

UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet on Thursday criticised the detention of Apple Daily owner Jimmy Lai.

Speaking to the 2021 Society of Publishers in Asia press awards ceremony held in Hong Kong, Ms Bachelet said the security law was leading journalists to self-censor to avoid clashing with "vaguely formulated offences".

Lai has been in jail since December over unauthorised rallies during the pro-democracy protests. He is facing three national security charges, including colluding with a foreign country and is already serving several sentences for taking part in unauthorised rallies.

British foreign minister Dominic Raab called on China to respect its commitments to free media under an agreement with Britain over how Hong Kong would be ruled after 1997.

REUTERS