Hong Kong’s Next Digital says CEO and CFO resign Reuters

(Reuters)-Hong Kong media group Next Digital said on Thursday that it had received an email from its chief executive officer Zhang Jinxiong, stating that he has resigned because the company faces an investigation under national security laws.

Next Digital is owned by jailed media tycoon Jimmy Lai and is the publisher of Apple (NASDAQ:) Daily, a popular democratic newspaper that was recently raided by 500 police in its newsroom to investigate certain articles Whether it is closed after violating the security law.

In the email, the company stated that it had received a copy of the resignation letter of Zhang’s resignation as executive director, chief executive officer, executive committee and nomination committee member and his other positions in the group, all effective. From June 30.

The company said that since Zhang has been remanded in custody, it will inquire about the reason for his resignation and whether he has any disagreements with the board of directors.

In early June, Zhang was accused of “colluding with foreign countries or with external factors to endanger national security” under the controversial national security law in the region. The law was internationally condemned and raised concerns about media freedom in the financial center.

Next Digital stated that the media company’s chief financial officer Hong Zhiqiang will also resign, but confirmed that he resigned for personal reasons and that he has no disagreement with Next Digital’s board of directors.

The company added that its chief operating officer has also resigned.

An internal memo obtained by Reuters last week stated that the media company will cease operations from July 1 after the company’s assets are frozen.