More Hongkongers than ever perceived news outlets to be self-censoring, survey finds
Hong Kong Free Press
More Hong Kong residents than ever perceived the city’s news outlets to be self-censoring and shying away from criticising local and Beijing authorities, a survey has found.
The Hong Kong Public Opinion Research Institute (HKPORI) on Tuesday released the results of a survey that has tracked residents’ appraisal of the media since 1997. The institute interviewed 669 people living in Hong Kong and aged 18 or above in early November.
In total, 65 per cent of the survey respondents perceived news outlets to have practiced self-censorship – up eight per cent from last year and a record high – while only 22 per cent indicated otherwise.
Meanwhile, 70 per cent of respondents said news outlets were hesitant to criticise the Hong Kong government, while 75 per cent said news outlets were hesitant to criticise Beijing authorities.
Both figures were a record high since the survey’s launch in 1997, when Hong Kong – a former British colony – was returned to Chinese rule, according to HKPORI’s data.
Only 24 per cent and 16 per cent believed news media had “no scruples” when criticising local authorities and Beijing, respectively.
Net satisfaction rate of press freedom in Hong Kong remained in the negative. More than half of those surveyed – 51 per cent – were dissatisfied with press freedom in the city, while 38 per cent said they were satisfied.
But the overall credibility rating of news media in Hong Kong stood at 5.28 out of 10, which was just 0.01 point lower than last year.
Compared to last year, a smaller percentage of people found news media had “misused or abused” press freedom, while a larger proportion found news media were responsible in their reporting.
HKPORI also found that the internet and television remained people’s main sources of news.
Although television was still ranked the most trustworthy source of news, the percentage of respondents selecting this option dropped from 39 per cent to 32 per cent.
This year, 12 per cent said radio news was trustworthy and only six per cent said the same of newspaper, with HKPORI noting that the figure for newspaper was the lowest level since 1993.
This year’s survey also found that 22 per cent of respondents had friends as their main sources of information – up eight per cent from last year.
Hong Kong’s press freedom has been battered since Beijing imposed a national security law in 2020, under which senior staff at pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily were prosecuted. The city’s ranking in Reporters Without Borders’ annual press freedom index has also plummeted.
In August, Hong Kong’s media workers rated press freedom in the city at a record low of 25 out of 100 in a separate index created by the Hong Kong Journalists Association. They cited fears of a new security law enacted in March – known colloquially as Article 23 – damaging press freedom.
See also: Explainer: Hong Kong’s press freedom under the national security law
Authorities deny that the security laws have hurt press freedom in the city. Chief Executive John Lee has said that press freedom was “in the pocket” of residents, but that “nobody is above the law.”
All HKFP staff are members of the HKJA, whilst Hans Tse is a member of the 2024-25 Executive Committee.
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