Four years later, Apple Daily lives on: RSF and exiled Hong Kong journalists release a special edition of the iconic newspaper shut down by Beijing
To mark the fourth anniversary of the forced closure of Apple Daily — formerly Hong Kong’s largest Chinese-language independent newspaper — Reporters Without Borders (RSF), along with a group of former Apple Daily journalists now in exile, has published a special revival edition of the paper. It pays tribute to media outlets that continue to resist repression, both in Hong Kong and abroad.
On 24 June 2021, the final edition of Apple Daily reached a record print run of one million copies — ten times its usual daily circulation. In memory of this iconic symbol of the struggle for press freedom in Hong Kong, RSF has brought together former Apple Daily staff and other exiled journalists from the territory to produce an edition that celebrates the enduring spirit of the newspaper.
To mark the occasion, RSF offices around the world also mobilised in support of this special edition, taking pictures while holding the newspaper and organising rallies outside Chinese embassies, including in Paris.
“Hong Kong’s press freedom is in free fall, but this special edition of Apple Daily is not an obituary. It is a tribute to the immense sacrifices made by journalists who refuse to be silenced. Despite Beijing’s ongoing efforts to stifle independent journalism in Hong Kong, the legacy of Apple Daily lives on, upheld by brave journalists who continue to challenge the regime’s propaganda with accurate and truthful reporting. The international community must act now, by offering safe refuge, issuing emergency visas, providing financial support, but also keep applying pressure on the Chinese authorities so that 10 detained journalists, including Jimmy Lai, are finally free.
Apple Daily was forced to shut down after nearly 500 police officers raided its newsroom and the authorities froze the assets of its parent company. Seven former staff members remain in detention and face life imprisonment under the National Security Law (NSL), including Jimmy Lai. In an effort to justify these charges, the authorities have labelled more than 160 articles, opinion pieces and videos published by Apple Daily as “criminal” under this draconian legislation.
Jimmy Lai’s trial on national security charges has already lasted over 140 days, far beyond the initial 80-day schedule. His case is extremely urgent, as at the age of 77, he spent more than 1600 days in solitary confinement and is currently in poor health. With every day that passes, the risk that he will die in jail increases. Lai has been held since 2020, and faces life imprisonment under charges of “collusion with foreign forces” and “seditious publications.”
“Apple Daily gave the Hong Kong people a voice at the newsstand. It gave them truth and, in doing so, it gave them power. For all the good trouble he made, my father has paid the highest price. Jimmy Lai is standing up for the freedoms we all treasure. It is time for us to stand with him.
Since the enactment of NSL in 2020, dozens of newsrooms have shuttered under mounting political pressure, and hundreds of reporters have moved abroad. The Chinese regime has exploited the NSL and other laws to prosecute at least 28 journalists, 10 of whom are detained to date in the territory. The few brave journalists who continue their work in Hong Kong face daily harassment and financial instability.
Despite being in exile, many journalists continue their mission of informing the public. Some have founded media outlets aimed at both the Hong Kong diaspora and those who remain in the territory. Shirley Leung, a former Apple Daily reporter and now Editor-in-Chief of Taiwan-based online outlet Photon Media, told RSF that her team’s goal is to “fill the black hole of information” left by the disappearance of independent media in Hong Kong.
Hong Kong ranks 140th in the 2025 RSF 2025 World Press Freedom Index, a dramatic fall from 18th place just two decades ago. China, meanwhile, ranks 178th out of 180 countries and territories assessed.
