Three Companies Related to Apple Daily Have Been Removed from the Company Registry

SighingCashier · 2026-03-24T13:15:51+00:00

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, in accordance with the National Security Law and related regulations, ordered the removal of Apple Daily and its two subsidiary companies from the Companies Registry, which led to the immediate dissolution of these three companies. The Government emphasized that Jimmy Lai leveraged the newspaper to disseminate inflammatory remarks, which directly affected national security; therefore, it exercised its powers in accordance with the law to protect national security. These three companies are now classified as "prohibited organizations," and engaging in related activities will constitute a criminal offense.

SighingCashier

2026-03-24 13:15:51

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Acting Chief Executive will join the Executive Council today to issue an order under Section 31 of the Hong Kong National Security Law and Section 360C(1) of the Companies (Winding Up and Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance (Cap. 32) for the Companies Registry to remove Apple Daily Limited, Apple Daily Printing Limited, and Apple Internet Limited (collectively referred to as the “Apple Daily” related companies) from the Companies Register.

The Companies Registry has immediately removed the Apple Daily related companies from the register and published a notice of deregistration in the Gazette. The three companies related to Apple Daily are now dissolved.

A government spokesperson emphasized that the court, in its reasons for judgment, pointed out that Jimmy Lai, as the majority shareholder of Next Digital Limited, the holding company of the Apple Daily related companies, effectively controls these companies. He closely manages Apple Daily and directs its editorial stance; whether before or after the implementation of the Hong Kong National Security Law, Lai has used the platform of Apple Daily to publish inciting articles and to request foreign sanctions, blockades, or other hostile actions against China and the Hong Kong SAR. Senior management of Apple Daily was fully aware of Lai’s intentions and provided support, implementing his editorial directives.

The spokesperson stated that the court found that the conspiracy involved in the first charge of “conspiracy to publish, distribute, sell, offer for sale, reproduce, or display inciting publications” and the second charge of “conspiracy to collude with foreign or external forces to endanger national security” was carried out with the cooperation of the Apple Daily related companies, which were aware and willing to participate. Therefore, in order to safeguard national security, the relevant powers under Section 360C of the Ordinance have been exercised to remove the Apple Daily related companies from the Companies Register, achieving a reasonable balance between national security and protecting human rights and freedoms.

The spokesperson stated that the Companies Registry has removed the Apple Daily related companies from the register. After publication in the Gazette, these companies are now dissolved and have been designated as “proscribed organizations.” Any person engaging in activities specified in Sections 62 to 65 of the National Security (Legislative Provisions) Ordinance commits an offense.

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