Hong Kong pro-democracy pirate radio to stop broadcasting after founder says station bank account ‘locked’
Hong Kong Free Press
Citizens’ Radio, a pro-democracy pirate radio station, will cease operating on Friday after its founder said the station’s bank account had been frozen.
Founded in 2005 by ex-legislator “the Bull” Tsang Kin-shing, the station had previously been raided by the government on suspicion of using an illegal radio transmitter for FM audio broadcasting.
Tsang, in a statement published on Facebook last Friday, thanked those who had volunteered for the radio and the station’s audience.
“It has been difficult for the programme to invite guests in the face of the free-fall changes of the political situation, red lines, and perilous situation after the Umbrella and anti-extradition bill movements,” the post read.
“Recently, [Citizens’ Radio’s] bank account was even ‘locked,’ and we can only afford rent until August, after that we could not continue.”
“Therefore, resignedly, Citizens’ Radio have to suspend its broadcast,” the post read.
The station had hosted a number of prominent democrats on his shows, including the late founder of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China Szeto Wah, and ex-Democratic Party chairs Albert Ho and Emily Lau.
“Long Hair” Leung Kwok-hung, a member of the pro-democracy League of Social Democrats, one of the city’s last active pro-democracy groups, was one of the hosts of the station.
Leung is currently in remand facing trial under the Beijing-imposed national security law over an unofficial primary election for a Legislative Council election.
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