Hong Kong press freedom seen to have deteriorated last year - survey

Great Wall Pan Asia Holdings

24/03/2016 05:05

By Clare Baldwin 
    HONG KONG, March 24 (Reuters) - Hong Kong residents and 
journalists believe the state of press freedom deteriorated in 
the city for a second straight year in 2015, a survey by a media 
group showed, apparently a reflection of general unease in the 
city about mainland Chinese control. 
    For an English-language summary of the survey, see the link. 
    While there were no major attacks on the media last year, 
the case of five city booksellers who published gossipy books 
about Chinese leaders, and who went missing only to reappear in 
mainland Chinese custody, contributed to an undermining of faith 
in free speech, said an official of the Hong Kong Journalists 
Association, which conducted the survey. 
    "The squeeze in the newsroom is now so telling in newspapers 
and TV programmes that members of the public can sense it," 
association vice chairwoman Shirley Yam, told Reuters. 
    Fifty-four percent of the public and 85 percent of 
journalists believed press freedom deteriorated in Hong Kong 
last year, as measured by a press freedom index, according to 
the survey released on Tuesday. 
    The survey of more than 1,000 residents and hundreds of 
journalists found that self-censorship was more common, with the 
greatest concern being over criticizing China's Communist 
Party-run government. 
    Former British colony Hong Kong returned to Chinese rule in 
1997 under a "one country, two systems" formula meant to 
preserve its freedoms. 
    Mainland China has rejected calls for full democracy in a 
2017 city election compounding concern about what many residents 
see as growing mainland restrictions. 
    The mainland government and Hong Kong's pro-Beijing city 
government have dismissed such concerns. The Hong Kong 
government said on Wednesday it was firmly committed to 
safeguarding press freedom. 
    "Every endeavour should be made for journalists to report 
news professionally and accurately under the principle of 
editorial autonomy," a government spokesman said. 
    In response to the case of the booksellers, China has said 
its law enforcement officials would never do anything illegal, 
especially overseas. 
 
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Hong Kong Journalists Association survey shows "worrying" trend 
on confidence    http://www.hkja.org.hk/site/portal/Site.aspx?id=A1-1459&lang=en-US 
  
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 (Reporting by Clare Baldwin; Additional reporting by Kalum 
Chen; Editing by Robert Birsel) 
 ((Clare.Baldwin@thomsonreuters.com; + 852 2843 6571; Reuters 
Messaging: clare.baldwin.thomsonreuters@reuters.net)) 
 
Keywords: HONGKONG CHINA/MEDIA