Apple Daily aired its last live news show on Monday night, only days ahead of the expected closure of the newspaper and its online operation.

The programme thanked the audience for their support since it started going live last October, and urged other journalists to remain steadfast and defend the truth.

More than 30,000 people logged on for the final programme. Many thanked the programme journalists for their work and offered donations.

Earlier, Apple Daily staff were warned that the newspaper could fold this Saturday unless the authorities release assets frozen as part of a national security investigation.

Two senior executives from the company were last week charged with "conspiring to collude with foreign elements".