Pro-protest HK newspaper besieged as deliveries disrupted

Apple Daily Chairman Jimmy Lai

As many as 300 men have besieged the printing plant of a pro-protest Hong Kong newspaper, delaying delivery of Apple Daily and other papers printed at the site including the International New York Times.
The men, wearing surgical masks, arrived by bus the last two nights at about 10 p.m. and stayed until about 5 a.m., Mark Simon, commercial director for Next Media Animation Ltd. said in an interview. The men have been obstructing trucks and trying to inspect the newspapers, he said.
“They basically stand and yell,” Simon said. “They block our trucks from coming out, which delays us getting to the streets.” Simon said that he believed the protests were likely organized by people in mainland China.
Hong Kong’s police are concerned about the incident and will continue to monitor developments, taking action where appropriate, according to a statement on the force’s official website dated Monday.
The Apple Daily and its outspoken chairman Jimmy Lai have a history of criticizing the government in Beijing as China asserts its control over the former British colony. Hong Kong’s Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying should step down as he is in the way of talks with leaders in Beijing over democracy, Lai said yesterday on Bloomberg TV.
“He is not fighting for us, he is fighting against us,” said Lai, who has supported the student-led protests for free elections in 2017, was the target of a failed assassination attempt in 2008. In recent months his media empire has been targeted by hackers, including an attack Monday that disrupted its website.
Newspapers printed at the industrial park in the Tseung Kwan O neighborhood include the New York Times, USA Today and the giveaway paper Metro. They have been arriving at newsstands about three hours late because of the disruptions, Simon said.
“This is not uncoordinated,” Simon said. “There is an effort to basically dictate to the Hong Kong people news coverage.”
Apple Daily won a temporary court injunction on anyone blocking the gates of its building, Radio Television Hong Kong reported yesterday.
“We’re hoping the rule of law in Hong Kong wins out and people will respect injunctions,” Simon said. “Tonight we’ll see what happens.” Lisa Pham, Bloomberg