香港警方國安處10日以違反《國安法》「勾結外國或者境外勢力危害國家安全罪」，逮捕黎智英等7人，並封鎖查證香港《蘋果日報》編採部一事。引英美官員與歐盟共同以自由之名聲援，並強烈譴責港警侵害新聞自由舉措。

美國副總統彭斯（Mike Pence）10日推文聲援，並附上去年7月接見黎智英時相談合照，表示他對於黎智英維護民主、權利與北京當局曾承諾香港的自治而深受啟發。直指香港逮捕黎智英行徑，形同侵犯全球熱愛自由之人。

The arrest of @JimmyLaiApple in Hong Kong is deeply offensive & an affront to freedom loving people around the world. When I met w/ Jimmy Lai @WhiteHouse, I was inspired by his stand for democracy & the rights & autonomy that were promised to the people of Hong Kong by Beijing. pic.twitter.com/ZwioCrvNb7

— Mike Pence (@Mike_Pence) August 10, 2020

美國國務卿蓬佩奧（Mike Pompeo）9日才與「五眼聯盟（FVEY）」，包含英國、加拿大及澳紐五國外交部長，共同關切港府取消立法會候選人，及延宕立法會選舉一事。見10日事件則推文表示，此舉顯露中國共產黨已損害香港自由與侵犯人權，指出他因香港當局行為深感不解。

I’m deeply troubled by reports of the arrest of @JimmyLaiApple under Hong Kong’s draconian National Security Law. Further proof that the CCP has eviscerated Hong Kong’s freedoms and eroded the rights of its people.

— Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) August 10, 2020

美國參議員魯比歐（Ｍarco Rubio）則轉推美籍香港社群領袖朱牧名文章，呼籲自由世界共同為置身險境的香港人發聲。

More arrests taking place in #HongKong under National Security Law. Jimmy Lai and his son were charged with “colluding w/ foreign powers.” As more arrests are expected, the free world must respond quickly as well as provide safe harbor to at-risk Hong Kongers. https://t.co/KriQdwiqFS

— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) August 10, 2020

強生藉中英聯合聲明保障自由

《路透》（Reuters）報導提及英國首相強森（Boris Johnson）透過發言人聲明，這已證實香港利用《國安法》抵制反對派勢力，香港當局應更重視人民權利及自由伸張。並表示對黎智英及其他新聞從業者的逮補，將違反《中英聯合聲明》與基本法中特別名列的新聞自由，應當受到國安法第4條保障。

英國下議院議員柴萍恩（Sarah Champion）也引述《英國廣播公司》（BBC）報導、推文挺黎智英，表明港府公正應用法律，而非胡亂用以逼迫異端。

Jimmy Lai: Hong Kong media tycoon arrested under new security law. Unless this legislation is applied fairly in HK, not as a way to intimidate dissenting voices, it will be impossible to view it as anything other than an attack on Democracy & Basic Law https://t.co/cCI3Hxp7wY

— Sarah Champion (@SarahChampionMP) August 10, 2020

歐盟直指港府擅用國安法

歐盟同樣因此案發表聲明，執行委員會（European Commission）對外事務發言人史丹諾（Peter Stano）提及黎智英被控勾結國外勢力，將引人憂心《國安法》已被利用來壓制香港人民及新聞自由。歐盟藉此重申港府尊重人權及基本法的自由核心價值。

歐洲議會議員福斯達（Guy Verhofstadt）分享《英國廣播公司》（BBC）報導，指名中國企圖將香港導向死胡同，無視民主及國安法合法性。

With the arrest of Jimmy Lai China is driving Hong Kong further down a dead end street. Nothing to do with national security but an attempt to rule without even a show of legitimacy, let alone democracy.https://t.co/wrTNLcE8Wu

— Guy Verhofstadt (@guyverhofstadt) August 10, 2020