Three companies relating to Apple Daily already struck off Companies Register
The Acting Chief Executive-in-Council (CE-in-C) today (March 24), pursuant to Article 31 of the Hong Kong National Security Law (HKNSL) and section 360C(1) of the Companies (Winding Up and Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance (Cap. 32) (the Ordinance), ordered the Registrar of Companies to strike Apple Daily Limited, Apple Daily Printing Limited, and AD Internet Limited (referred to as the three companies relating to Apple Daily thereafter) off the Companies Register. The Registrar of Companies has thereupon struck the three companies relating to Apple Daily off the Companies Register and published notice thereof in the Gazette, and the three companies relating to Apple Daily are dissolved. Details are set out in the Gazette Extraordinary Notice No. 17 of 2026 (see Annex).
Lai Chee-ying case
In the Lai Chee-ying case, Lai Chee-ying and the three companies relating to Apple Daily were prosecuted with a total of three charges of offences endangering national security, including "conspiracy to commit collusion with a foreign country or with external elements to endanger national security" (contrary to Article 29 of the HKNSL and sections 159A and 159C of the Crimes Ordinance), and "conspiracy to print, publish, sell, offer for sale, distribute, display and/or reproduce seditious publications" (contrary to sections 10, 159A and 159C of the Crimes Ordinance). The court convicted Lai Chee-ying and the three companies relating to Apple Daily of all charges on December 15, 2025, and handed down sentences on February 9 this year. Amongst others, the three companies relating to Apple Daily were each sentenced to a fine of HK$3,004,500.
Lai Chee-ying, Photo source: Sing Tao Daily
The court held in its reasons for sentence that the offence of "conspiracy to print, publish, sell, offer for sale, distribute, display and/or reproduce seditious publications" in this case fell within the most serious category for its type, and the two offences of "conspiracy to commit collusion with a foreign country or with external elements to endanger national security" fell within the category of offences of "a grave nature". The court further pointed out that, without the facilitation from the three companies relating to Apple Daily, two of the charges in this case could not have occurred, and that there were no valid mitigating factors in respect of the three companies.
Striking the three companies relating to Apple Daily off the Companies Register
Article 31 of the HKNSL stipulates that the operation of an incorporated or unincorporated body such as a company or an organisation shall be suspended or its licence or business permit shall be revoked if the body has been punished for committing an offence under that law. Given that the three companies relating to Apple Daily have been convicted and punished by the court in accordance with the law, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government has a responsibility to enforce the relevant provisions in Article 31 of the HKNSL regarding the three companies relating to Apple Daily.
Taking into account all the relevant circumstances of the case, it is necessary for the HKSAR Government to revoke the registration of the three companies relating to Apple Daily, and prohibit the operation or continued operation of the three companies in the HKSAR, in order to effectively safeguard national security. In this light, the Secretary for Security issued written notices to the three companies relating to Apple Daily respectively on February 11, affording them an opportunity to make representations regarding the intention of the Secretary for Security to make recommendation to the CE-in-C under section 360C(1) of the Ordinance. Replies were received from the directors of the three companies on February 25, confirming that there were no representations from those companies. Taking into account all the relevant circumstances of the case, including the conviction and severity of the offences committed by the three companies relating to Apple Daily and the recommendation by the Secretary for Security, the Acting CE-in-C today ordered the Registrar of Companies to strike the three companies relating to Apple Daily off the Companies Register.
A spokesman for the HKSAR Government stressed, "Safeguarding national security is a matter of fundamental importance. The court pointed out in its reasons for verdict that, being the majority shareholders of Next Digital Limited, the holding company of the three companies relating to Apple Daily, Lai Chee-ying was actually in control of the three companies. He closely managed and exercised hands-on control on the editorial direction of Apple Daily. Whether pre- or post-HKNSL, Lai Chee-ying utilised Apple Daily's platform to publish seditious articles, and requested foreign countries to impose sanctions or blockades, or engage in other hostile activities against the People's Republic of China and the HKSAR. The senior management of Apple Daily were fully aware of Lai Chee-ying's intention and provided support by executing his editorial directions. The court also ruled that the conspiracies in the first charge of 'conspiracy to print, publish, sell, offer for sale, distribute, display and/or reproduce seditious publications' and the second charge of 'conspiracy to commit collusion with a foreign country or with external elements to endanger national security' were facilitated by the three companies relating to Apple Daily, and that they were knowing and willing parties to the conspiracies. Therefore, to safeguard national security, it is necessary to exercise the power under section 360C of the Ordinance to strike the three companies relating to Apple Daily off the Companies Register, in order to achieve a reasonable balance between safeguarding national security and protecting human rights and freedoms."
The three companies relating to Apple Daily have become "prohibited organizations"
"The Registrar of Companies has struck the three companies relating to Apple Daily off the Companies Register, and on publication of notice in the Gazette, the companies shall be dissolved and become 'prohibited organizations'. Any person who engages in the acts specified in sections 62 to 65 of the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance commits an offence, including acting as an office-bearer or a member of a prohibited organization; and giving aid of any kind to a prohibited organization, and is liable on conviction to a maximum fine of HK$1,000,000 and imprisonment for 14 years," said the spokesman.
"The HKSAR Government will continue to resolutely safeguard national security to prevent, suppress, and impose punishment for acts and activities endangering national security, ensuring that laws are observed and strictly enforced, so as to bring offenders to account. The HKSAR Government appeals to members of the public not to participate in any activities of prohibited organizations, or have any connection with them by dissociating themselves from prohibited organizations."
Apple Daily, Photo source: Sing Tao Daily
