With Apple Daily Closed, Media Question Security Law’s Reach

BANGKOK - With Hong Kong’s last pro-democracy newspaper gone, questions remain about the future of press freedom in the city.

Apple Daily’s publisher said that with founder Jimmy Lai in prison, five executives arrested under the national security law and its financial assets frozen, it was impossible to continue. The closure led to international condemnation, including from U.S. President Joe Biden who said Thursday, “Beijing must stop targeting the independent press.” But as the million-copy final edition sold out, media analysts said the loss of Hong Kong’s last pro-democracy newspaper could impact the press scene and how journalists approach reporting on some issues.