Media mogul Jimmy Lai and execs arrested, publisher's offices searched

Jimmy Lai Chee-ying, the 72-year-old owner of Next Digital which publishes the Apple Daily, was arrested by Hong Kong police early today along with his two sons Timothy and Ian, for suspected collusion with foreign forces under the new national security law.

The outspoken media mogul was arrested at his home in Ho Man Tin at about 9:30am.

Four senior executives of the publisher, including chief executive Cheung Kim-hung, director Royston Chow Tat-kuen, administrative director Wong Wai-keung and animation manager Ng Tat-kwong, were also arrested later in the day.

They are suspected to have colluded with foreign and external forces to endanger national security as well as conspiracy to defraud.

In the afternoon, activist Andy Li Yu-hin and former Scholarism member Li Chung-chak were also taken into custody.

As dusk fell, Activist Agnes Chow Ting was arrested at home in Tai Po.

Another Next Digital executive, American Mark Simon, a confidant of Jimmy Lai, who is not in Hong Kong at the moment, is wanted by the police.

He tweeted at night that “bail has been denied to Next Digital CEO & Acting Publisher of Apple Daily. Mr. Cheung Kim Hung. Mr. Cheung has over 25 years of journalist experience including serving as Chief Editor of Next Magazine.''

Following the arrest of Jimmy Lai, 200 police officers converged on the second floor newsroom of the Next Digital office in Tseung Kwan O Industrial Estate. Police escorted Lai to his office in handcuffs.

After a lengthy search, based on a warrant, police took away 25 boxes of material.