Two leaders of Apple Daily, Hong Kong pro-democracy, appeared on Saturday for cooperation and were refused bail following a comprehensive security law against the daily, a shameless Beijing critic.
CEO Cheung Kim-hung and Ryan Law are suspected of colluding with foreign forces, in a series of publications in which the police have sought international sanctions, in order to threaten Chinese national security.
Chief Justice Victor So declared that "the courts do not feel that the accused will continue to carry out acts that threaten national security" were insufficient reasons.
This is the first time the Hong Kong press release has prompted the security law, which Peking implemented last year to put an end to dissension in the financial hub, through the political views and opinions.
Apple Daily and Jimmy Lai, his prison owner, have been thorns on the side of Peking for many years, with unapologetic support of the pro-democracy movement in the city and scathing criticism of Chinese authoritarian officials.
The newsroom stormed on Thursday more than 500 police officers and removed computers, hard drives, and notices from reporters.
Also arrested were five executives. On Friday the three others were released on bail till the further investigation was carried out by Law and Cheung.
Tens of supporters, including many of Apple Daily's former and current workers, were quiet to gain seats in court on Saturday morning.
She and many other employees of Apple Dailies treat "every day as it is our last" work for the paper, one of the staff members who named her Chand.
"Initially, the government indicated that national security legislation would target only a small number of people," she told AFP.
She added: "But it's foolishness to us what's happened.
She felt that Apple Daily's legal trouble was a warning shot, a reporter from another crew who gave her first name as Theresa.
"I think every other news outlet in the city can finally happen what happened to Apple Daily today," she said.
Sink liberties of the press
Several worldwide media businesses have their regional headquarters in Hong Kong, are drawn by rules that are business favorable and free expression in the miniconstitution of the city.
But many increasingly question whether there is a future there and set up contingency plans, while Beijing is pressing a broad-based response to disagreements in the city.
There is a harder time in local media with journalists' associations arguing that reporters have to self-censor more and more.
Reporters Without Borders has consistently sunk from 18th place in 2002 to 80th place this year in its annual press freedom survey.
Out of 180, China continues to languish 177th, above Turkmenistan, North Korea, and Eritrea alone.
The arrests were not an attack on the media, both Hong Kong and Chinese officials.
Security Secretary John Lee labeled Apple Daily earlier this week as a 'criminal union.'
Apple Daily is by far the most prominent media in Hong Kong. But how much time it can endure is unclear.
The rich owner Lai, 73, serves many prison sentences for his participation in the 2019 marches for democracy.
He is also accused of having his assets frozen from Hong Kong under the National Security Act.
Apple Daily's assets were frozen on Thursday by authorities for an additional HK$18 million (US$2.3 million).
The Police are also saying that they plan to prosecute three Apple Daily companies, which may see the paper fined or banned, under security law.
It is the first time that businesses have been confronted with a national safety probe rather than an individual.
Mark Simon, an assistant to Lai living abroad, claimed the document would be impossible to pay his 700 colleagues.
He stated that company lawyers tried to develop the scope of the asset freeze order.
"Money is not a matter of concern. "The issue is the draconian Beijing orders via the NSL," he said to AFP.
