Apple Daily founder and free speech advocate Jimmy Lai Chee-ying arrested in Hong Kong
Just last week, Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai Chee-ying was speaking to CBC News anchor Adrienne Arsenault about the risks of openly criticizing the Chinese Communist Party government in Beijing.
Today, the owner of Apple Daily was arrested on suspicion of breaking Hong Kong's national security law, according to the South China Morning Post.
An unnamed source told the paper that Lai has been taken into custody "for collusion with a foreign country, uttering seditious words, and conspiracy to defraud". Another 10 people will also reportedly be arrested.
Speaking with Arsenault last week, Lai said he's always being followed.
He also accused the Chinese Communist Party of trying to induce fear.
"I cannot be scared," Lai told CBC News. "If I'm scared, what can I do?"
Lai also revealed in the interview that he has relatives in Canada. And he acknowledged that everything he was saying on CBC could be construed as a violation of the national security law.
The arrest of Lai came after the U.S. government imposed sanctions on 11 current and former officials in Hong Kong, including Chief Executive Carrie Lam.
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