The remaining directors of three companies, including Hong Kong’s now-defunct pro-democracy tabloid Apple Daily, have appointed someone to represent their entities in national security and sedition cases.
Mr. Man appeared as the company representative for Apple Daily Limited, Apple Daily Printing Limited, and AD Internet Limited as they appeared at West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts in front of hand-picked national security judge Acting Chief Magistrate Peter Law on Thursday.
In several earlier court sessions, the companies did not have a company representative appointed. Senior sounsel Eric Kwok served as the companies’ legal representative on Thursday.
The three companies, along with media tycoon Jimmy Lai, and six former staff members of Apple Daily and its parent company Next Digital, stand accused of conspiring to commit collusion with foreign forces to endanger national security, and to print, publish, sell, offer for sale, distribute, display and/or reproduce seditious publications.
Apple Daily published its final edition in June last year after the group was prosecuted under the Beijing-imposed national security law, which also outlawed subversion, secession, and terrorist acts.
Last December, the High Court ordered that Next Digital must be wound up. Kwok told reporters after the court session that the liquidation process was ongoing.
The group will return to court again on February 24 for return day, where the court will handle procedures for transferring the case to the Court of First Instance.
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