Edmond Ng, Jessie Pang

HONG KONG, (Reuters) – Citizen News in Hong Kong said Monday that its closure was triggered last week by the closing of a pro democracy media outlet. This followed seven arrests and a raid by police.

Stand News was a pro-democracy news source that was closed after 200 officers searched its newsroom. They also froze the assets of the site and made seven arrests for conspiring to publish seditious materials.

Citizen News stated on Sunday that they will stop operations starting Tuesday. They described the situation in China-governed Beijing as “deteriorating” while pointing out the necessity to protect its staff.

“The decision was reached in short order. According to Chris Yeung of Citizen News, who was also chief writer for Stand News, and former president, of the Hong Kong Journalists Association (HKJA), the “trigger point” was Stand News’ fate.

“We cannot rule out that… we may be exposed to some risk.”

Citizen News, which was established in 2017, stated that it is independent and had no political affiliation. It promotes openness, freedom, diversity, and inclusion. There were 40 people employed.

In 1997, Hong Kong was returned to Chinese control with promises of protection for individual rights and a free press. Rights groups, as well as some Western governments, claim freedoms have been compromised since Beijing inflicted a new national security law in Hong Kong in 2020.

Hong Kong’s government denied targeting journalists and limiting freedoms at the global financial centre. China asserts rights advocacy is being used in an effort to stop Hong Kong’s development after security law restores stability.

After a June 2021 national security investigation that led to closure of Jimmy Lai’s Apple, NASDAQ:) Daily newspaper in Hong Kong, Stand News became the only remaining pro-democracy news publication.

Stand News’ former editors had been charged with conspiring to publish sedition material. They were denied bail.

Citizen News Chief Editor Daisy Li said to reporters, “What has changed?”