Hong Kong’s press freedom has reached a record low, according to the latest annual survey by the Hong Kong Journalists Association (HKJA) and the Hong Kong Public Opinion Research Institute (HKPORI). The Press Freedom Index, which ranges from zero to 100, has dropped to a historic low of 25 this year, reflecting a decline of 0.7 points from the previous year and a significant 17-point fall since the survey began in 2013.
The survey, which included responses from over 250 journalists and about 1,000 members of the public, underscores increasing concerns over press freedom, primarily due to the national security laws imposed on Hong Kong. Over 90% of journalists attributed the decline in press freedom to the new security law, known as Article 23, enacted in March. This law targets crimes such as espionage and foreign interference and follows a similar law introduced by Beijing in 2020 after pro-democracy protests.
The prosecution of media tycoon Jimmy Lai, founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily, under the 2020 security law is seen as a major blow to media freedom, with 94% of journalists identifying his case as particularly damaging. Additional concerns have been raised over the disappearance of South China Morning Post reporter Minnie Chan in Beijing, who has not been heard from since attending a security forum last year.
While public ratings of press freedom remain relatively stable at 42.2, journalists report heightened awareness of the challenges they face. The relatively stable public reaction may be due to less discussion around Article 23 compared to the 2020 security law.
In response, China’s foreign ministry defended the security laws, asserting that they target only individuals threatening national security and not law-abiding journalists, claiming that press freedom has been better protected under these laws.
The survey’s release follows the recent dismissal of HKJA’s newly elected chairperson, Selina Cheng, by the Wall Street Journal. Although Dow Jones, the newspaper’s parent company, did not comment on Cheng’s case, it reaffirmed its commitment to supporting press freedom.
