WSJ urges sanctions on Hong Kong leaders after journalist convictions; security chief decries ‘fact-twisting’
Hong Kong Free Press
The Wall Street Journal editorial board has said the “benighted leaders of Hong Kong deserve the world’s scorn – and sanctions,” after two journalists were convicted of sedition last week, prompting the security chief to slam the editorial as “fact-twisting.”
Last week, authorities hailed the conviction of ex-Stand News editors Chung Pui-kuen and Patrick Lam after they and the shuttered news outlet’s parent company were found guilty last Thursday of publishing 11 “seditious” items. Opinion pieces, a feature and an interview were among the website articles in questions. Multiple NGOs, a press union and foreign countries slammed the guilty verdicts, saying they demonstrated the city’s decline in press freedom.
The Wall Street Journal wrote on Monday that “[b]usinesses need reliable information to make decisions, but practicing journalism can now count as a crime in Hong Kong,” adding that Chung and Lam “know better than most in the West the price of fighting for a free press.”
In a Tuesday retort to the US newspaper’s editor, Secretary for Security Chris Tang said double standards were at play: “No responsible government would tolerate dissemination of disinformation, incitement of hatred and glorification of violence. Recent example includes a British journalist reportedly being arrested for allegedly violating the UK Terrorism Act.”
Tang may have been referring to the recent arrest of Syrian-British foreign affairs freelancer Richard Medhurst in London.
Tang concluded: “We are not intimidated by the so-called ‘sanctions’ mentioned in your piece, which are despicable political manipulation. We will resolutely continue to safeguard national security.”
The Wall Street Journal itself has faced pressure over its stance on press freedom in Hong Kong. In July, it fired the head reporter Selina Cheng weeks after she was elected head of the city’s largest press union. Hundreds signed a petition calling on the paper to reinstate her. The Wall Street Journal claimed she was laid off due to restructuring; Cheng has threated legal action.
Ming Pao letter
Separately, Tang on Wednesday wrote to the chief editor of Hong Kong newspaper Ming Pao, expressing disagreement over an opinion piece about the Stand News verdict.
The op-ed, written by veteran media figure Chan King-cheung, argued that journalists needed clarity regarding the sedition offence, otherwise the media’s ability to serve as a watchdog for the government may be affected.
“There should be clear and strict rules regarding what is ‘[seditious] intention,’” Chan wrote. “So that the media and the public have a line to follow.”
But Tang said Chan’s article was “partially wrong” and misleading, as criticism based on facts would not be deemed seditious.
Tang cited the recent debate over the postponed implementation of a waste tax and the controversy over a sex education guideline published by the Education Bureau, which suggested young people could avoid sexual urges with diversions such as badminton.
He said the existence of such discussions showed that different viewpoints could be expressed “on the basis of objectivity and rationality.”
Tang said the question over how to define seditious intention had been clearly answered by multiple court rulings. “As long as the media… provide reliable information based on accurate facts, they do not need to worry about breaching the law,” he wrote.
Letters to int’l press
Including the latest missive directed at the Wall Street Journal, local government officials have written at least 10 letters to the international press this year about their reporting and commentaries. Recipients include The Washington Post, The Economist, the Guardian, The New York Times and Bloomberg. Last week, Chief Secretary Eric Chan said “[c]riticising the government is not an action that is disallowed,” following the Stand News verdict.
Chung and Lam face up to two years in prison when sentenced next month.
Hong Kong has plummeted in international press freedom indices since the onset of the security law. Watchdogs cite the arrest of journalists, raids on newsrooms and the closure of around 10 media outlets including Apple Daily, Stand News and Citizen News. Over 1,000 journalists have lost their jobs, whilst many have emigrated. Meanwhile, the city’s government-funded broadcaster RTHK has adopted new editorial guidelines, purged its archives and axed news and satirical shows.
See also: Explainer: Hong Kong’s press freedom under the national security law
In 2022, Chief Executive John Lee said press freedom was “in the pocket” of Hongkongers but “nobody is above the law.” Although he has told the press to “tell a good Hong Kong story,” government departments have been reluctant to respond to story pitches.
Additional reporting: Hans Tse.
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