Hong Kong police were raiding the office of an online news outlet today after arresting six current and former staff members for conspiracy to publish a seditious publication.
More than 200 officers were taking part in the search, police said. They had a warrant to seize relevant journalistic materials under a national security law enacted last year.
The arrests happened early Wednesday and searches of their residences were underway, police said. Police did not identify those who were arrested but online outlet Stand News posted a video on Facebook of police officers at the home of a deputy editor, Ronson Chan, to investigate the alleged crime. Chan is also chair of the Hong Kong Journalists Association. The arrests come as authorities crack down on dissent in the semi-autonomous Chinese city.
Police charged former newspaper publisher Jimmy Lai with sedition on Tuesday. His Apple Daily newspaper shut down after its assets were frozen. They also follow the removal of sculptures and other artwork from university campuses last week.
The works supported democracy and memorialised the victims of China’s crackdown on democracy protesters at Beijing’s Tiananmen Square in 1989. Freedom of press is of paramount importance in modern society.