Cheering supporters met him at midnight on Tuesday outside the Hong Kong police station where he was being held, several media outlets said. Some showed their support by holding up the latest issue of his Apple Daily.

Pro-democracy media mogul Jimmy Lai, who was released on bail after being arrested on Monday, is urging journalists at his Hong Kong-based Apple Daily newspaper to "continue fighting".

New security law

71-year-old Lai was one of ten people arrested on Monday as part of a police operation against alleged contact with foreign forces. The criminal classification was introduced with the new security law that Beijing forced through in Hong Kong in June and which critics believe aims to quell the democracy movement in Hong Kong.

The arrest of Lai has drawn criticism from the outside world, including US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

"Continue fight"

- Continue fight! Let's keep fighting, Lai said as he visited Apple Daily's editorial office on Wednesday after being detained for nearly two days.

- We have the support of the people of Hong Kong. We must not let them down.

Following the arrest of Lai, many Hong Kong residents have bought support for the Apple Daily, which has significantly increased its circulation.