Taiwan says it will stop authorities in Hong Kong from taking control of the bank account and database of the discontinued tabloid Apple Daily. That came from Mainland Affairs Council vice head Chiu Chui-cheng on Thursday.
Chiu was responding to reports that Hong Kong had appointed an accountant in Taiwan to liquidate the tabloid and seize its data.
Apple Daily Taiwan’s parent company Next Digital was shuttered in Hong Kong last year after most of its top leaders were arrested under National Security Law.
But Taiwan does not recognize judgements by foreign courts if they are contrary to “public policy or morals.” And authorities say Hong Kong’s National Security Law falls into that category.
Chiu says if Hong Kong authorities insist on extending their “draconian” law into Taiwan, authorities will act immediately to stop them.
The online tabloid’s Taiwan website closed on Wednesday due to financial trouble. But most of its staff have continued to work for a new website with a similar name owned by a Singaporean businessman.