Happy Birthday to us!
Twenty-nine years ago on the 1st September 1994, bc magazine debuted on the streets of Hong Kong.
A lot of people – staff, friends, advertisers and readers have been involved over the years, thank you for your continued support and strength especially now. Stay safe.
Carpe Diem!
Happy Birthday to us!
Twenty-eight years ago today, bc magazine debuted on the streets of Hong Kong.
A lot of people – staff, friends, advertisers and readers have been involved over the years, thank you for your continued support and strength especially now.
Carpe Diem!
Today 9 February, the Hong Kong Government published a response to a statement from the Media Freedom Coalition about freedom of the press in Hong Kong. Here is the press release in full.
“HKSAR Government strongly opposes misleading and baseless allegations by foreign entities on freedoms of the press and speech in Hong Kong.
The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) today (February 9) strongly condemned a totally erroneous statement issued by the United Kingdom Government in the name of a number of foreign entities under the so-called “Media Freedom Coalition” concerning the implementation of the Hong Kong National Security Law.
A spokesperson for the HKSAR Government said, “The HKSAR is proud of its unwavering commitment to the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary, which underpin the city’s success as an international business and financial centre. Under Article 25 of the Basic Law, all Hong Kong residents shall be equal before the law. It is baseless for the signatories to the statement to make such allegations that our authorities have targeted and suppressed independent media in the HKSAR since the enactment of the Hong Kong National Security Law.
“Since the city’s reunification with the motherland, the HKSAR Government has been firmly committed to safeguarding the freedoms of the press and speech, both of which are protected under the Basic Law and the Hong Kong Bill of Rights. As a matter of fact, Article 4 of the Hong Kong National Security Law stipulates that such freedoms shall be protected in accordance with the law while safeguarding national security in the HKSAR.”
The spokesperson added, “Foreign countries that have in their respective jurisdictions national security legislation which is more wide-ranging than the Hong Kong National Security Law are no doubt aware that according to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the exercising of the freedoms of the press and speech must comply with the restrictions of the law for reasons including protection of national security.
“We must reiterate that all law enforcement actions taken by Hong Kong law enforcement agencies under the Hong Kong National Security Law, or indeed any local legislation, are based on evidence, strictly according to the law and for the acts of the persons or entities concerned, and have nothing to do with their occupation, background or political stance. The law enforcement actions taken by the HKSAR Government against Stand News adhered to such fundamental principles.
“We must also point out that the media landscape in Hong Kong is as vibrant as ever. As a case in point, a total of 209 media organisations, be they based locally, in the Mainland or overseas, are registered with the HKSAR Government News and Media Information System of the Information Services Department at present, showing an increase after the implementation of the Hong Kong National Security Law. As always, the media can exercise their right to monitor the HKSAR Government’s work, and their freedom of commenting on or even criticising government policies remains uninhibited as long as this is not in violation of the law.
“We express our deep regret and must rebuke those foreign entities for signing a ‘media freedom-related’ statement that contained no more than the usual fact-twisting and opinionated attacks against the Hong Kong National Security Law since its promulgation for implementation in the HKSAR upon the passage by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress on June 30, 2020. Contrary to their allegations, the implementation of the Hong Kong National Security Law has restored stability in society and the people of Hong Kong are no longer threatened or intimidated by acts or activities endangering national security or their everyday life.”
The undersigned members of the Media Freedom Coalition express their deep concern at the Hong Kong and mainland Chinese authorities’ attacks on freedom of the press and their suppression of independent local media in Hong Kong.
Recent developments include the raid of Stand News offices, the arrests of its staff, and the subsequent self-closure of Citizen News, stemming from concern over the safety of its staff. Since the enactment of the National Security Law in June 2020, authorities have targeted and suppressed independent media in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. This has eroded the protected rights and freedoms set out in the Basic Law and undermines China’s obligations under the Sino-British Joint Declaration. This has also caused the near-complete disappearance of local independent media outlets in Hong Kong. These ongoing actions further undermine confidence in Hong Kong’s international reputation through the suppression of human rights, freedom of speech and free flow and exchange of opinions and information.
A stable and prosperous Hong Kong in which human rights and fundamental freedoms are protected should be in everybody’s interest. We urge Hong Kong and mainland Chinese authorities to respect freedom of the press and freedom of speech in Hong Kong, in line with the Basic Law and China’s obligations under the Sino-British Joint Declaration.
Co-signatures:
Australia
Austria
Canada
Czech Republic
Estonia
Finland
Germany
Iceland
Ireland
Italy
Japan
Latvia
Lithuania
Luxembourg
the Netherlands
New Zealand
Slovakia
Slovenia
Switzerland
the United Kingdom
the United States
Media Freedom Coalition50 countries have signed up to the Media Freedom Coalition and pledged to:
The pledge was published and signed as part of the Global Conference for Media Freedom hosted by the UK and Canadian governments in London on 10 and 11 July 2019. It is published in English and French.
The FCC issued the following statement in regards to the new restrictions imposed by the police on journalists in Hong Kong. If the HK Police have nothing to hide, then they should not fear media scrutiny of their actions.
Sadly, in numerous recent court cases, video evidence from journalists has proved that the HK Police have submitted factually inaccurate statements under oath to the court in attempts to convict innocent HongKongers.
Here is the FCC statement in full, including a letter from the HK Police to the FCC.
The Foreign Correspondents’ Club, Hong Kong, is firmly opposed to a restrictive new accreditation policy for journalists in the city as detailed in a 22 Sept. letter from the Hong Kong Police. This move is another step in the erosion of Hong Kong’s once cherished press freedom as it would give the police — rather than reporters and editors — the power to determine who covers the police.
The changes are not referred to as an accreditation system, but rather a redefinition of who is a journalist in the Police General Orders with the aim of “allowing frontline officers to efficiently and swiftly verify the identity of media representatives.” The letter says the police force will “amend the definition of ‘media representatives’ under the Police General Orders.” Yet the practical impact is the same as accreditation or licensing.
The new rule says police will only recognise as media those who have registered with the Government News and Media Information Service, or members of “internationally recognised and reputable” foreign media outlets. The goal, according to police spokesmen, is to weed out so-called “fake reporters,” who they claim — without offering evidence — have obstructed police operations and even assaulted police officers on duty.
The FCC stands firmly against the system detailed in the Hong Kong Police Force’s letter for the following reasons:
* It undercuts the local journalist organisations whose membership cards have been routinely recognised and respected, the Hong Kong Journalists’ Association and the Hong Kong Press Photographers Association. These organisations conduct rigorous vetting of candidates before issuing membership cards, and this move by the police would take the power to determine who is a legitimate journalist out of the hands of journalists’ groups and place it in the hands of a government entity. That in itself is a serious erosion of press freedom and independence.
* The new scheme would give police officers the power to decide what foreign media outlets are “internationally recognised and reputable.” How would that be determined? With the proliferation of new media outlets around the world, how can the police on the ground determine which ones are “internationally recognised” and deserving to be treated as legitimate? What about media that do not publish or broadcast in English, or that are not widely known outside of their home countries or immediate regions — are they not to be considered real journalists?
* The policy would be a serious blow for freelancers and student reporters — two groups of journalists who have provided some of the most compelling reporting from last year’s protests and police actions. Many journalists now operate as freelancers, some working regularly for specific organisations, and many others offering their stories and videos to multiple outlets “on spec”. News outlets have come to rely on freelancers due to the changing economics of the industry. But most of them cannot obtain registration because of their freelance status.
Student journalists, likewise, have been integral to the reporting on — and public understanding of — last year’s protest movement. Student reporters have faced the same dangers as veteran journalists, and some have been injured.
But this is about more than access to events and invitations to the inside of the police cordon. Journalists who are not recognised under this new policy could face the real possibility of arrest for unlawful assembly or rioting.
Before this new policy, Hong Kong had already dropped to an ignominious 80th place on the Reporters Without Borders annual press freedom index of 180 countries, down from 48th place in 2009. And that was before the 10 August police raid on the headquarters of Apple Daily and the arrest of its founder, Jimmy Lai.
The Hong Kong police in their letter say they “always respect press freedom and their rights of journalists.” If that is the case, they should welcome free and unfettered access to their operations and should encourage open reporting instead of trying to restrict the number of journalists covering its operations. A force that is proud of its discipline and confident its officers follow established protocols and guidelines should have nothing to fear from the spotlight journalists shine on it.
Source: https://www.fcchk.org/fcc-opposes-hong-kong-police-accreditation-process-for-journalists/
