November 19, 2024 - Hong Kong, Hong Kong

Women Press Freedom is appalled at the sentencing of veteran journalist Claudia Mo, who was handed four-year-and-two-months in prison. We condemn this dreadful sentencing of the journalist and demand authorities in Hong Kong to immediately revoke the decision and set Mo free.

In August 2022, Mo—who was also a prominent lawmaker—was coerced to plead guilty for “conspiracy to commit subversion" charges under Beijing's draconian law. Her sentencing comes among 46 others, collectively referred to as “Hong Kong 47”, all of whom were charged in 2021 under the law for “involvement” in conspiracy during the 2020 primary elections. Some of those arrested on the charges have already spent over three years in jail.

Alongside Mo, Gwyneth Ho—former reporter of the now defunct news outlet Stand News—also received a seven-year prison term. She was convicted in May this year under the same notorious law.

Press freedom in Hong Kong is facing the worst suppression from authorities with journalists vulnerable to alarming threats and misuse of law. Legal harassment and intimidation have become more common than ever in the region. In September 2024, Selina Cheng, chair of Hong Kong Journalists Association and former Wall Street Journal reporter, received anonymous threats online and by post. From January 2019 to July 2024, WPF has documented at least 31 cases of threats, specifically targeting women journalists in Hong Kong.

We demand authorities in the region to stop weaponizing the law to attack journalists and undermine press freedom. We also call for their immediate release and for them to be allowed to work freely without any fear of retaliation.