INTRODUCTION

This report should have been published as the 30th report on Hong Kong’s freedom of expression prepared by Hong Kong Journalists Association (HKJA), as it had been every year since 1993. The threat of the Beijing-imposed National Security Law means that this, understandably, did not happen.

But the mission to document Hong Kong’s press freedom in particular and freedom of expression does not stop. It has been picked up by an independent group of Hong Kong journalists and researchers who remain committed to telling truth to power. Here, they document the latest developments in the demise of freedom of expression in Hong Kong. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), with its long-standing support and commitment to defending press freedom in Hong Kong is honoured to provide the platform for its publication.

At the early stage after the handover in 1997, Hong Kong’s media appeared to be largely left to its own devices by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) - an outcome not born out of the largesse of the party, but as a hard-won result of the constant vigilance, fightback and resilience of Hong Kong’s journalists and civil society.

To those outside of the territory, the CCP appeared to have kept its promise of maintaining “one country, two systems”. But inside, the reality was continual and cumulative attempts to erode press freedom – all clearly documented in the successive annual reports on freedom of expression by IFJ’s affiliate, the HKJA.

The IFJ acknowledges the remarkable courage of Hong Kong’s journalists and HKJA for their tireless work and commitment to professional journalism and defending the media space.

The irony is not lost on anyone that the 30th annual report can no longer be published inside Hong Kong. A further painful footnote for media workers was the decision by HKJA members in June to change the union’s constitution to make the organisation’s dissolution easier, if and when this is needed.

It is indeed a tragedy in Hong Kong today that many journalists who have dedicated their lives to the ideals of press freedom and the people’s right to know have been forced to flee, self-censor or submit to years in prison for simply doing their job. Still, others are continuing to work professionally within Hong Kong’s paradigm shift, pushing the envelope within the new boundaries where they can.

In exile and online, they are endeavouring to tell their story in spaces outside CCP control. Together they stay committed to shine a light even in this uneasy, indeed dangerous, time.

In Hong Kong, free speech is no more. But Hong Kong’s journalists will not to be silenced. This is their story – the fight continues.

IFJ Asia-Pacific