The Apple Daily a 'serious liberal newspaper' is rather akin to referring to The Daily Fail as the British a heavyweight newspaper of record. The AD was seldom ever more more than a salacious comic until it perceived that there was increased adv revenue and circulation in becoming the organ of the mob bent on destroying the fabric of Hong Kong. Any serious liberal leanings were purely incidental until the US realized that it was a useful stick with which to beat China and channeled funds to the proprietors. A typical Hong Kong story of a money making scheme dressed up to be something of benefit to the local working class.