Hong Kong: Two Independent Media Outlets Forced To Shut Operations Amid Threats To Staffers

Location: Hong Kong
Date: January 3, 2021

Independent news outlet Citizen News has stated that it will cease operations from January 4, 2022, citing fears for the safety of its staff. The decision to shut down publication was reportedly triggered by the recent police raid at the offices of prominent pro-democracy media outlet Stand News, which announced closure of operations last week.

The Coalition For Women In Journalism is extremely concerned about the hostile environment for journalists in the region and calls on the relevant authorities to reflect on the situation and take necessary steps to safeguard independent media in the country. 

“Regrettably, the rapid changes in society and worsening environment for the media make us unable to achieve our goal fearlessly. Amid this crisis, we have to first make sure everyone on the boat is safe,” read the statement issued by Citizen News, which was established in 2017, on Monday, January 3, 2022. 

“If I am no longer confident enough to guide and lead my reporters, I must be responsible, said Daisy Li, the chief editor of the news outlet, announcing the closure at a press conference on Monday.

According to Chris Yeung, chief writer at Citizen News and former president of the Hong Kong Journalists Association, the decision to suspend operations of his employer publication was prompted by the massive raid at the offices of Stand News and subsequent arrests of the latter’s staffers. “We could not rule out that … we might be exposed to some risks,” he told reporters on Monday.

“Reporting fearlessly means we aren’t afraid of offending the political elite, we criticise the authorities when their policies aren’t right, we don’t shy from covering corporations due to business pressure,” local journalists quoted Yeung as saying. “But it doesn’t mean we should have to sacrifice our freedom as a price. Journalists are humans too. We have families and friends. When we can no longer work safely and peacefully, it's time to seriously consider whether we can continue.”

Over 200 policemen raided the Stand News offices in the last week of December 2021. The publication’s assets were frozen and two senior editors were arrested on charges of conspiring to publish seditious materials. The media outlet subsequently announced its closure. 

Local journalist Rachel Cheung took to Twitter to shed light on the matter and condemn the closures.

It's really easy to think of them as "just another" media that bit the dust. But Stand News and Citizen News had sheltered journalists from mainstream outlets such as RTHK, iCable and Apple Daily. They were the only refuge that remained.

— Rachel Cheung (@rachel_cheung1) January 2, 2022

“It's really easy to think of them as "just another" media that bit the dust. But Stand News and Citizen News had sheltered journalists from mainstream outlets such as RTHK, iCable and Apple Daily. They were the only refuge that remained,” said Rachel. 

Last year, the largest pro-democracy newspaper in Hong Kong, Apple Daily, was closed after becoming a prime target of the government’s efforts to stifle independent media in the region. As in the case of Stand News, the closure of Apple Daily was preceded by a police raid. The outlet’s assets and accounts were also frozen.

The Coalition For Women In Journalism is extremely concerned at the increasingly restricted media environment in Hong Kong. Such attacks on independent media organizations are direct threats to freedom of speech and the citizens’ right to be informed. We call on authorities to urgently review their approach towards independent media and provide a safe environment for each journalist in the country. Reporting independently is an essential right to all journalists, and must be seen as such by Hong Kong’s authorities as well.

The CFWIJ strongly condemns the police brutality against journalists. We demand the immediate return of the press cards seized from the security forces. Policies to intimidate journalists should be abandoned, and journalism should be practiced under the criteria of freedom of the press.

If you have been harassed or abused in any way, and please report the incident by using the following form.