Hong Kong’s sole remaining pro-democracy newspaper will publish its last edition today, forced to shut down after journalists were arrested as part of China’s crackdown on dissent.

The board of directors of Apple Daily parent company Next Media said yesterday that the print and online editions will cease due to “the current circumstances prevailing in Hong Kong”.

The silencing of a prominent pro-democracy voice is the latest sign of China’s determination to exert greater control over the city long known for its freedoms after huge anti-government protests there in 2019 shook the government.

Since then, Beijing has imposed a strict national security law – used in the arrests of five editors and executives – and revamped Hong Kong’s election laws to keep opposition voices out of the legislature.

Apple Daily was founded by tycoon Jimmy Lai in 1995 – two years before Britain handed Hong Kong back to China – and initially was known for its celebrity gossip.

But Mr Lai had also always portrayed the paper as an advocate of Western values and said it should “shine a light on snakes, insects, mice and ants in the dark,” according to the paper.

It grew into an outspoken voice for defending Hong Kong’s freedoms not found on mainland China, and in recent years has often criticised the Chinese and Hong Kong governments for limiting those freedoms and reneging on a promise to protect them for 50 years after the city’s handover to China.

While pro-democracy media outlets still exist online, it was the only print newspaper left of its kind in the city.

In a post on Instagram, the paper thanked its readers.

“Even if the ending is not what we want, even if it’s difficult to let go, we need to continue living and keep the determination we have shared with Hong Kong people that has remained unchanged over 26 years,” Apple Daily wrote.

The widely expected move to close Apple Daily followed last week’s arrests and the freezing of €2m of the paper’s assets.

The editors and executives were detained on suspicion of colluding with foreigners to endanger national security.

Police cited more than 30 articles published by the paper as evidence of an alleged conspiracy to encourage foreign nations to impose sanctions.

It was the first time the national security law had been used against journalists for something they had published.

The move against Apple Daily drew criticism from the US, the EU and Britain.