Updates


Decision by China’s top legislative body will see mainland laws enforced in designated zone, amid fears that city’s autonomy will be undermined Dec. 27, 2017 (South China Morning Post) — Beijing on Wednesday formally approved a controversial plan for mainland officials to enforce national laws in part of a station on the Hong Kong side for a cross-border rail link under construction, presenting a done deal to the city amid an...

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Dec. 21, 2017 (RTHK) — Chief Executive Carrie Lam says it will be “very difficult” to enact national security laws in the coming 12 months and it’s not on her agenda for now. In an exclusive interview with RTHK, Lam said she hopes people will not see the future legislation as something to be feared. Beijing figures have repeatedly indicated in recent months that the central government is losing patience with Hong Kong over...

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Dec 12, 2017 (Hong Kong Free Press) — Businessman Kenny Wee is suing online media outlet Citizen News for defamation over an article relating to his purchase of tabloid publication Next Magazine. Wee filed an action with the court on Monday against the Citizen News company and its editor-in-chief Daisy Li over the article published on November 22. In July, Wee sold off his free newspaper Metro Daily in anticipation of the Next...

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Nov 7, 2017 (Hong Kong Free Press) — The Office for Film, Newspaper and Article Administration has allowed Hong Kong Free Press to register as a newspaper, meaning its reporters can finally access government press conferences and press releases. The authorities had long-forbidden digital-only media from attending government events to ask questions of officials, despite sustained pressure from local and international...

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Former lecturer and author of the city’s first English media law book Doreen Weisenhaus says the case of the missing booksellers is a clear sign things have changed and that courageous local journalists are key to moving ahead Oct 11, 2017 (South China Morning Post) — Doreen Weisenhaus had a dream job as city editor at The New York Times in 1999 when Chan Yuen-ying, a former New York journalist, came knocking. Chan had been...

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Industry welcomes ‘long overdue decision’ to let digital news outlets cover official events, but some are still sceptical of terms for eligibility Sept 19, 2017 (South China Morning Post) — Digital media outlets in Hong Kong would be allowed to cover official events and receive press releases or invitations under ­relaxed rules, the government said yesterday. Chief Executive Carrie Lam Yuet-ngor said the ­arrangement would be...

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