Several Hong Kong media excluded from 1 July’s double celebration

A number of local and foreign media will not be able to cover the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong’s handover to China nor the inauguration of its new chief executive, ostensibly on health and safety grounds related to COVID-19. The former British colony’s ranking falls precipitously in terms of press freedom.

Hong Kong (AsiaNews) – Several local and international independent media will not be able to cover live two major events on 1 July, namely the inauguration of Hong Kong’s new chief executive, John Lee, and the celebrations for the 25th anniversary of the handover of the territory to China marking the end of British colonial rule.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, who has not yet left mainland China since the outbreak of the pandemic, could be present at both events.

For either event, Hong Kong authorities have not invited (thus de facto banning) the Hong Kong Free Press (HKFP) and other local media like InMedia, PSHK, and TMHK. Also excluded are Japan’s Nikkei, Asahi Shimbun and Kyodo News, as well Getty Images (United States), CTV (Taiwan) and the European Pressphoto Agency.

HKFP points out that it is legally registered to follow government activities, as are many of the uninvited media outlets. But only 20 broadcast reporters selected by the Information Services Department, plus 10 from other news outlets will be able to attend.

The government has justified the restrictions citing health and safety related to the COVID-19 pandemic, an argument used several times in the last two and a half years to ban public events, such as the traditional vigil to remember the victims of the Tiananmen massacre.

The Hong Kong Journalists' Association slammed the authorities' decision, urging the government to be more inclusive in order to keep the public as informed as possible.

International organisations that support journalists such as the Committee to Protect Journalists and Reporters Without Borders called the decision an act of censorship that shows the lack of credibility of the incoming chief executive, John Lee, who has claimed that freedom of the press is guaranteed in Hong Kong.

On 13 June, Luo Huining, Beijing's top representative in Hong Kong, said the city needs “patriotic” media. For local authorities, freedom of speech and freedom of the press are protected, but they are not absolute and may be restricted for reasons of national security.

Reporters Without Borders notes that, in terms of press freedom, Hong Kong’s ranking dropped by 68 places last year, to 148th.

Since Beijing imposed a draconian national security law two years ago, three independent newspapers have gone out of business: Apple Daily (owned by Catholic magnate Jimmy Lai who is currently in prison), Stand News and Citizen News.

At the same time, Initium has moved its operations to Singapore, while DB Channel has suspended operations in the former British colony.

• hong kong
• china
• press freedom
• censorship
• crackdown
• chief executive
• inauguration
• anniversary
• handover
• 1997
• john lee
• xi jinping