The offices of Apple Daily, once the largest pro-democracy newspaper in Hong Kong, and its parent company, Next Digital, were raided and executives arrested by the Hong Kong Police Force on 10 August 2020 and again on 17 June 2021. Some of the arrested and three companies of Next Digital were charged under the Hong Kong national security law. The 26-year-old newspaper was forced to close in June 2021 following the raids and freezing of its capital. Background National Security Law Before Hong Kong national security law was imposed by the Beijing Government and officially promulgated by the Hong Kong Government on 30 June 2020, Jimmy Lai, the founder of Next Digital, was rumoured to be a target under the new law. Lai insisted on not leaving Hong Kong; during two interviews on 16 and 29 June he said that he was expecting to be jailed. He also vowed to fight until the last moment. United States sanctions The United States Department of the Treasury announced first round of sanctions against 11 Hong Kong and Chinese officials on 7 August 2020. Chief Executive of Hong Kong Carrie Lam, Secretary for Justice Teresa Cheng, Secretary for Security John Lee, Police Commissoner Chris Tang were among those on SDN list. The Department denounced Lam's critical role in pushing the later withdrawn extradition bill and the national security law, suppressing the freedom and democracy in Hong Kong. The PRC Government counter-sanctioned 11 US congressmen and politicians on 10 August, including Josh Hawley, as well as Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz, and Chris Smith, who had already been sanctioned earlier. First raid Events In the morning on 10 August 2020, the National Security Department of the Hong Kong Police Force arrested founder of Next Digital Jimmy Lai. Four senior management staff of the company, CEO Cheung Kim-hung, CFO Royston Chow Tat-kuen, Administrative Director Wong Wai-keung, and Animation Director Ng Tat-kwong, were arrested on suspicion on conspiracy to commit fraud, while Chow was also with the suspicion of collusion with foreign forces under the National Security Law. Two sons of Lai were arrested also under the suspicion of collusion with foreign forces. Mark Simon, the adviser to Lai who was not in Hong Kong, was reportedly wanted by the police. He later confirmed on Twitter that Lai had been arrested under the national security law. Nearly 200 police cordoned, raided, and searched the headquarter of Next