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"It is very important not to stop speaking out. You need to comment on politics and society; that's how you participate in it," said Wu Qiang.

"My generation experienced political opening and the short-lived freedom of 1989," he continued, referring to the Tiananmen Square pro-democracy protests that ended with hundreds of students massacred by the army.

The first suspect to stand trial under the controversial, Beijing-imposed law loses his bid for a trial by jury after a panel of judges rules that while "conventional," a jury trial is not the only means to achieve fairness in a criminal procedure.

Apple Daily's English edition, finance section, Twitter account and video department have all ceased operations.

Remaining journalists at the embattled daily tell HKFP that they will stay on until the bitter end as bosses at the newspaper prepare to make a last ditch attempt to have HK$18 million worth of assets seized by the authorities returned.