While the political economy of the Hong Kong news media has changed significantly in recent decades, many aspects of Hong Kong journalism remain firmly rooted in the mainland. Media owners in Hong Kong, particularly in the city’s smaller publications, have extensive stakes in the mainland, but this does not necessarily mean that the mainland government has an unbroken line of sight into newsroom operations. Rather, the tug of war between political pressure and the ethical and professional practices of local journalists persists.
The recent denial of media licence applications by the Hong Kong government has prompted a backlash from media groups. A former executive of the Ming Pao newspaper has said Tiong did not care about losing the paper and its business, but rather focused on the symbolic value of being a Hong Kong news media owner. In fact, some media outlets have continued to attract business despite their losses. Ultimately, however, it is the role of citizens to support local media outlets that dare to challenge power.
David’s activism is increasingly being broadcast on social media, but protesters in Hong Kong remain divided about his tactics. Some of David’s social media posts have sparked anger among many Hong Kong residents. One Telegram channel criticized him for accusing others of imposters and a former police officer. David, however, continued to take action, despite the backlash. The news outlet is currently awaiting the National Security Law to take effect, which will increase censorship of political protests.
Another example of the pro-Beijing media’s reaction to the recent pro-Beijing protests was the recent decision by the Hong Kong Examinations Authority to change a history textbook. The textbook asked students to debate whether Japan did more good than harm to China in the period 1900-1945. However, the pro-Beijing media slammed the initiative, accusing the HKEA of ‘whitewashing’ Japan’s role in early twentieth-century China and fostering ‘traitorous’ thoughts.
In response to the protests, many civil society organizations in Hong Kong have dissolved or shut down. Others have ceased operations altogether in order to protect their staff and members. Among them are Hong Kong Alliance for the Patriotic Democratic Movement in China and Amnesty International. These groups have become the focal points of the movement. Hong Kong News will continue to provide comprehensive coverage of the latest developments in Hong Kong. For more information, visit our website or subscribe to our newsletter.
After the passage of the NSL in late-2018, Hong Kong has taken action against hamsters. Although the evidence for human-to-human transmission of this disease is limited, the Centre for Animal Health and Welfare (CAHW) said the hamsters were a negligible risk to health. While the government encourages Hong Kong residents not to panic and abandon their pets, it also advises them to use normal hygienic practices when handling their pets.
The controversial 2019-2020 protests erupted again in September. After two months of largely peaceful protests, the Chief Executive, Carrie Lam, proclaimed the withdrawal of the extradition bill in its entirety, fulfilling one of the five demands put forward by the protesters. On the other hand, on 26 September, Lam also held a discussion session with randomly selected members of the public, which had little impact on the protests.