1 Overview

June 21, 2017 (Hong Kong Free Press) — Chief Executive-elect Carrie Lam’s press officer has told HKFP that digital media will not be allowed to access a press conference about Lam’s cabinet picks. Online outlets will be barred from attending Wednesday’s media event, and will be unable to ask questions on behalf of the public. The policy is in line with the government’s widely condemned ban which prevents reporters whose outlets...

November 7, 2016 (SCMP) – Following Beijing’s decision to intervene with an interpretation of the Basic Law on oath taking by Legislative Council members, Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying said Hong Kong would move to enact Article 23, a controversial provision of the Basic Law relating to national security legislation. Full SCMP story:...

July 1, 2016 — The Hong Kong Journalists Association releases its 2016 annual report, “One Country, Two Nightmares,” detailing press freedom developments over the past year. HKJA press release See full report here. News coverage: South China Morning Post Hong Kong Free Press    

May 27, 2016 (South China Morning Press) — A university student editor has started legal action against the government’s media managing arm for barring online reporters from press conferences. Teenie Ho Kar-hei, a third-year student and chief editor of Chinese University’s English magazine Varsity, filed a High Court writ on Friday seeking a judicial review against the head of the Information Services Department, Patrick Nip...

May 24, 2016 (South China Morning Post) — Op-ed by Cliff Buddle — Whenever central government officials comment on Hong Kong’s judiciary, they court controversy. State leader Zhang Dejiang’s (張德江) remarks about the rule of law during his brief visit to the city last week were no exception. The speeches he made in Hong Kong were generally well received and moderate in tone. Zhang, chairman of the National People’s Congress,...

May 16, 2016 (Hong Kong Free Press) — The Legislative Council will stop distinguishing online media from other types of media outlets when the new term begins in September. Reporters at digital news outlets will also be granted permanent media passes to report from the building. “No matter print, electronic or online media, if they registered legally, mainly engage in news reporting business and they come to the LegCo building...