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In Hong Kong, China Threatens to Snuff Out Press Freedom

William Gallo

   SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA - Hong Kong's status as one of Asia's most thriving
   press hubs appears to be on life support with the onset of a new
   national security law imposed by China on the semi-autonomous territory
   this week.

   The law, a response to the resurgence of pro-democracy protests over
   the past year, ostensibly aims to prevent secession, subversion,
   terrorism, or collusion with foreign forces. Punishments for those
   crimes range from three years to life in prison.

   But the legislation's broad, vaguely worded provisions - which apply to
   locals, foreigners, and even people living in other countries - will
   drastically curtail freedom of speech, analysts warn.

   "It says the government can do pretty much anything it wants," says
   Steven Butler, the Asia program coordinator at the Committee to Protect
   Journalists (CPJ).

   Butler says the territory is likely to see a period of testing as
   authorities reveal exactly how they intend to interpret and apply the
   law, but the uncertainty has already had chilling effects on free
   speech.

   Signs of fear

   In recent weeks, waves of Hong Kongers have downloaded virtual private
   networks, or VPNs, as well as encrypted messaging apps such as Signal,
   to hide their digital activities from authorities.

   Some [1]websites have removed posts or articles that were critical of
   China or sympathetic toward independence. Many Hong Kongers have
   deleted their social media profiles altogether.

   "The entire media landscape is facing a new frontier," says Sharron
   Fast, a lecturer in media law at the University of Hong Kong.

   "There are many reports of media organizations being approached by
   authors to take down prior publications. So, editors are facing a very
   real conflict between the desire to retain previously 'lawful'
   publications and to preserve the historical record and the very real
   threats that authors face under the new law," she says.

   There are also signs that mainstream media outlets are altering their
   coverage of the protest movement, especially after Hong Kong officials
   on Thursday [2]announced that certain prominent protest slogans amount
   to banned displays of separatism.

   In a tweet Friday, the state-funded news outlet RTHK refused to even
   use the now banned slogan "Liberate Hong Kong," instead referring to it
   as "L******* #Hong Kong."

   The move suggests that some journalists are now reluctant to report on
   sensitive issues, even when they do so in neutral terms.

   "It has developed very fast and is terrifying," says Emily Lau, a
   former Hong Kong lawmaker and current democracy activist.

   Even though it isn't yet clear whether simply uttering a banned protest
   phrase will result in an arrest and conviction, the chilling effect on
   the press is clear, Lau says.

References

   1. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/01/world/asia/hong-kong-security-law-china.html
   2. https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202007/02/P2020070200869.htm

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