The National Security Department of the police today (29th) arrested seven current or former senior officials of "Stance News" and frozen the company's assets of approximately 61 million yuan.
"Stance News" announced the suspension of operations at about 4 pm and will remove the website and all social media within a day, and all employees have been dismissed immediately.
At about 11 p.m., the "Stance News" website was officially closed, and new users who wanted to browse, only displayed the black background and white announcements, and their Facebook page had disappeared.
At approximately 11 pm on December 29, 2021, the "Stance News" website was officially closed, (data picture)
"Position News" announced that it had ceased operations in the afternoon, alleging that the police arrested several senior and former high-level personnel of the company this morning, took many people away to assist in the investigation, and seized multiple computers and some documents in the Position News Office. Staff to provide assistance.
The announcement refers to the immediate suspension of the operation of position news in response to the situation, including the immediate suspension of updates of the website and all social media, and will be removed within a day.
Acting editor-in-chief Lin Shaotong has resigned, and all employees of Position News have been dismissed immediately.
The last page of the "Stance News" website
The police held a press conference in the afternoon. Li Guihua, Senior Superintendent of the National Security Department of the police, explained that the company was involved in publishing a number of inflammatory articles from July 2020 to November this year in an attempt to arouse hatred or contempt for the government and the Hong Kong judicial system. Hong Kong residents are dissatisfied and instigate others to not abide by the law.
Li Guihua also stated that the Director of the Security Bureau issued a notice of freezing assets in accordance with the National Security Law, freezing the company's assets of approximately 61 million yuan.
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The Association issued a statement stating that it is saddened by the suspension of Position News, and will do its best to provide assistance to the affected employees, and call on those in the industry to contact the parties in need.
The Association also alleged that in the name of national security, the police arrested high-level media and searched news organizations with large amounts of news materials within a year. They were deeply concerned about this and criticized the police's series of arrests for causing a chilling effect, which has a negative impact on the Basic Law. The guaranteed freedom of the press has caused a huge impact. The authorities are urged to protect press freedom in accordance with the Basic Law so that journalists can perform their mission of interviews without fear.
Search Position News | Position Suspension Report Association: I feel sad and will fully assist the police to defend the freedom of the press. Search Position News | Exposure of the content of the seditious article: The police wanted Cai Donghao and other people to search for Position News | Employees return to the company to take care of the news. Chen Langsheng: Today It’s a sad day to search for position news｜Six executives arrested, "Stance" announces immediate suspension of operations and dismissal of all employees to search position news｜DPP criticizes Beijing for stifling Hong Kong’s democracy and freedom Using news tools to harm the national security and criticize the gangsters to search for position news｜National Security Office: Articles related to inciting hatred or contempt for the government’s freezing of 60 million assets. Only two directors, Cai Donghao and Lin Shaotong, established the company in the UK in April