Hong Kong's Apple Daily to print last edition on Thursday

Hong Kong’s pro-democracy tabloid Apple Daily said it would print its last edition on Thursday after numerous raids by the police that ended with its owner and other staff arrested.

"Thank you to all readers, subscribers, ad clients and Hong Kongers for 26 years of immense love and support. Here we say goodbye, take care of yourselves," Apple Daily said in an article on its website.

It said the decision was "based on employee safety and manpower considerations".

The newspaper, which has long opposed the Hong Kong government’s limiting of freedom of speech and the new national security law, has been the focus of the authorities over the past year.

The paper's newsroom was raided by 200 police in August 2020 and its owner Jimmy Lai was arrested on suspicion of colluding with foreign forces. Lai has also had his assets frozen and has been harshly criticised by pro-Beijing news outlets.

Last week, Apple Daily’s office was raided by 500 police when five other executives were detained.

Authorities also said that Apple Daily pieces may have violated the security law imposed last year.

The paper's publisher, Next Digital , said in a statement the decision to close the newspaper, which employs about 600 journalists, was taken "due to the current circumstances prevailing in Hong Kong".