Couldn't hold the Tears: How Hong Kong's Last Independent Newspaper Was Closed

In a country where there were more than one or two such events in journalism, the reporter's feelings are perceived as his own.

After the pro-democratic newspaper Apple Daily was closed in Hong Kong under the new security law, its management was arrested, its premises were searched, and the accounts were frozen, the print version of the publication managed to hold out for another week, writes the Guardian newspaper and publishes on on condition of anonymity, the reporter's diary, how the newspaper and the editorial board lived in recent days.

On Thursday, June 17th, the phone rang at 7 am. As a rule, early calls in the journalistic profession do not bode well. A colleague called and said that five people from the newspaper's management were arrested, and hundreds of employees of the National Security Department were standing in front of the building. This has already happened - in August last year, when the editors were arrested, and after that they came with searches.

Indeed, the live stream showed how armed policemen in uniform burst into the lobby, and the editorial staff were sent to the cafeteria to await the outcome of the raid. The police showed a warrant, according to which they had the right not only to take away the equipment, but also to confiscate all journalistic materials and investigations. After five hours of the search, the journalists were allowed to return to the editorial office - 44 computers were seized, accounts were frozen, there was no money for salaries and expenses, the threat of closure became more real than ever.

June 19, Saturday was the trial. The publication's general director and editor-in-chief were accused of "cooperation with foreign authorities", which, according to the new security law, is equated to a crime. The rest were released on bail. The journalists waited several hours to be allowed into the courtroom. So they wanted to express solidarity with the arrested colleagues. They were left behind bars until mid-August.

On June 21, Monday, the editorial board remained frozen. Everyone thought that this day would be the last. But the board of directors of the publishing house postponed the decision until Friday in the hope that the authorities will unblock the accounts. The decision was taken badly by the collective - everyone was afraid that the delay would lead to new arrests. Some people decided to stay and work to the last. The exodus began among the rest. The financial news team left at full strength, and the video editors resigned as well.

The news team was given two hours to make a decision. The newsmen knew that their editor would not leave if there was at least one employee left, and the employees could not leave their editor alone. The majority remained. We decided to make special reports.

On Wednesday, June 23, there was a rumor about a new police raid, so the journalists were told to stay at home. Later, the news came - the main columnist for China was arrested. This cannot be proved, but the journalists thought that the new arrest was a punishment for the fact that the newspaper was still published.

An urgent meeting of the board of directors was held, which decided to close the newspaper no later than Saturday. The editorial board decided not to wait for Saturday - the last day will be today.

The main topic of the issue will be the closing of the Apple Daily. All reporters must finish and submit their material two days early. A bustle reigned in the editorial office, it was not without emotions, although everything was at a high professional level.

At half past ten in the evening, the photographers called everyone on the roof for the final shot from the drone. Gathered 100 employees of the editorial office, it was raining. Below, hundreds of people stood at the entrance to the editorial office and waved their smartphones with flashlights. Journalists shouted "thank you" to them, many could not hold back their tears.

An hour before midnight, all the articles that the journalists were able to write before closing the page on the Internet were published. The last update was made at 23:55 - it was the resignation of the editor-in-chief, who was arrested a week ago. The journalists applauded their editors, who ran the publication for 26 years in the most difficult times.

The journalists hugged each other and realized that this was their last day when they made news for their newspaper. On the other hand, 1 million copies will be sold out by readers tomorrow - for the last time.

Everyone who made this newspaper, free and in prison, is sad to see the last issue. But the support given to journalists by Hong Kong residents gives them confidence that 26 years have not been lived in vain, and that there is still hope for the future.