Apple Daily printed its last newspaper in Hong Kong on Thursday. The company ceased publication of its print newspaper in Taiwan in May, but parent company Next Digital said its online operations will be “unaffected.” Jimmy Lai, who founded Apple Daily in 1995 and owns both the Hong Kong and Taiwan titles, was sentenced in April to 14 months in jail for participating in pro-democracy protests. Hong Kong police raided Apple Daily’s offices last week and arrested five executives, two of whom were charged under the national security law.
Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council, which governs relations with China and its territories, said Thursday it felt “extreme regret and solemnly condemned” the muzzling of pro-democracy media outlets in Hong Kong.
