Research sheds light on the unseen battles Dutch journalists face, underscoring the urgent need for legal protection and support

Location: Hong Kong

Date: April 10, 2024

Women Press Freedom vehemently condemns the recent detention and subsequent deportation of Aleksandra Bielakowska, the Advocacy Officer for Reporters Without Borders (RSF), by the Hong Kong authorities. This alarming incident occurred as she attempted to monitor the trial of Jimmy Lai, a publisher facing life imprisonment under dubious national security charges. Such actions are an affront to press freedom and a deliberate attempt to shield judicial proceedings from necessary public scrutiny. Women Press Freedom demands an immediate and transparent explanation from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. We call for assurances that future monitoring of judicial proceedings by international representatives will not be obstructed.

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A representative of Reporters Without Borders (RSF) was detained and subsequently deported by Hong Kong authorities upon her arrival to monitor a high-profile national security trial. Aleksandra Bielakowska, an RSF advocacy officer based in Taipei, faced six hours of detention, questioning, and multiple searches at Hong Kong's international airport on April 10.

Bielakowska, alongside RSF’s Asia-Pacific Bureau Director Cédric Alviani, was on a mission to monitor the ongoing trial of Jimmy Lai, the founder of the now-closed Apple Daily newspaper. Lai, a prominent pro-democracy figure and critic of Beijing, is facing potential life imprisonment on charges of endangering national security — a case that has attracted widespread scrutiny and criticism.

This incident marks the first time an RSF representative has been denied entry and detained at Hong Kong airport. In contrast, RSF officials had previously visited the territory without issue, including two visits in 2023 alone to monitor the initial phases of Lai’s trial.

Rebecca Vincent, RSF’s Director of Campaigns, expressed deep concern over the treatment of their colleague, emphasizing that such actions represent a severe obstruction to press freedom. "We have never experienced such blatant efforts by authorities to evade scrutiny of court proceedings in any country," Vincent stated. 

Hong Kong was once hailed as a bastion of press freedom, but its standing has sharply declined over the past two decades. The territory now ranks 140th out of 180 countries in the RSF 2023 World Press Freedom Index, reflecting a significant deterioration in media freedom and independence.

The incident involving Bielakowska is part of a broader pattern of repression against those who attempt to bring global attention to the increasingly authoritarian climate in Hong Kong. Women Press Freedom has previously voiced alarm over the recent passage of national security law Article 23 in Hong Kong, which severely threatens the fundamental freedoms of expression and the press. These laws, passed at the behest of Beijing and designed to crack down on opposition and dissent, have introduced penalties, including life imprisonment, for vaguely defined political crimes such as treason and insurrection. More alarmingly, they target offenses like "external interference" and the theft of state secrets, casting a wide net that could ensnare journalists, among others, who play a critical role in holding power to account and informing the public.

Women Press Freedom calls for an immediate and transparent explanation from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region regarding Bielakowska's detention and deportation. We demand assurances that future monitoring by RSF or any other journalistic and human rights organizations will not be obstructed. The international community must respond decisively and demand that Hong Kong uphold its international obligations to protect press freedom and human rights.

Women Press Freedom is an initiative by The Coalition For Women In Journalism

The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.

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