Since the adoption by the Chinese regime of National Security Law in June 2020, the Hong Kong government has been leading an unprecedented campaign against the right to information, resulting in the prosecution of at least 28 journalists and press freedom defenders, 10 of whom are currently detained, including 2020 RSF Press Freedom Prize laureate Jimmy Lai. On 29 August 2024 a two former editors-in-chief of defunct online media Stand News, were found guilty of publishing “seditious publications,” in the first sedition case involving media in modern Hong Kong history.
Authorities also forcibly shut down two major independent media outlets, Apple Daily and Stand Newswhile the climate of fear led at least dozen of smaller media outlets to cease operations. At least 900 journalists have lost their jobs due to the closure of the independent media outlets, hundreds of media professionals had no other choice but to go into exilewhile some foreign journalists and an RSF representative were barred from entering the territory.
Hong Kong is ranked 135th in RSF’s 2024 World Press Freedom Indexhaving plummeted down the rankings from 18th place in just two decades. China itself ranks 172nd of the 180 countries and territories surveyed.
