The United States on Thursday urged Hong Kong to stop targeting the media, warning that raids on pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily undermined the city's credibility as an international hub. "We call on authorities to stop targeting the independent and free media," State Department spokesman Ned Price told reporters. "Efforts to stifle media freedom and to restrict the free flow of information not only undermine Hong Kong's democratic institutions but they also hurt Hong Kong's credibility and viability as an international hub." sct/sst