Five years after the CCP enforced the Hong Kong National Security Law (NSL), Hong Kong’s press freedom has declined, moving toward that of communist mainland China.
In the 2025 World Press Freedom Index released by Reporters Without Borders in May this year, Hong Kong scored 39.86 points, ranking 140th out of 180 countries and territories, the lowest rating it has ever received. China sits at 178.
Foreign media outlets have withdrawn from Hong Kong and local media have faced heavy suppression by the regime. Journalists have been criminally charged and imprisoned, and several online news platforms have shut down. As a result, Hongkongers have lost access to diverse sources of information. Current reporters and columnists are also forced to practice self-censorship under mounting pressure.
The 2024 promulgation of the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance (Article 23) by Hong Kong authorities further expanded the legal threats facing journalists, including potential charges of “espionage,” “theft of state secrets,” and “external interference.”
In last year’s report, Reporters Without Borders said at least 900 journalism jobs being lost, many of which were moved overseas, since the NSL was enacted on June 30, 2020.
Several Media Outlets Closed, Executives Jailed
Shrouded in the oppressive atmosphere of the NSL, several news media outlets shut down in the city between 2020 and 2022.
Authorities arrested Lai Chee-ying, founder of One Media, together with other executives of the group on Aug. 10, 2020. The One Media building, where Apple Daily and its weekly journal had their offices, was raided by more than 200 police officers sent to search the premises for violations of the new law.
On June 17, 2021, the police again deployed more than 500 personnel to search Apple Daily and took into custody Cheung Kim-hung, then-CEO of One Media, One Media Group’s chief operating officer Chow Tat-kuen, Apple Daily’s deputy chief editor Chan Pui-man, editor-in-chief Ryan Law Wai-kwong, and Apple News platform director Cheung Chi-wai.
On June 24, 2021, the last issue of Apple Daily was published, with the front page titled “Hong Kongers Farewell in the Rain, We Support Apple,” with a print run of 1 million copies.
Lai Chee-ying, Cheung Kim-hung, Chan Pui-man, Law Wai-kwong, former executive editor-in-chief Lam Man-chung, former English-language executive editor-in-chief Fung Wai-kwong, and former chief writer Yeung Ching-kei were later charged with “conspiring to collude with foreign or overseas forces to endanger national security,” and “conspiracy to publish, promote, sell, offer to sell, distribute, display or reproduce seditious contents.”
Of the seven, only Lai Chee-ying pleaded not guilty, and the case was postponed to Dec. 18, 2023. After a 146-day trial, closing arguments are scheduled for Aug. 14.
Even with the unfavorable precedent of Apple Daily, several media outlets persisted.
But in December 2021, Stand News former editor-in-chief Chung Pui-kuen and then acting editor-in-chief Patrick Lam Shiu-tung by the National Security Department of the Hong Kong Police on suspicion of “conspiring to publish a seditious content.” Stand News actively reported and conducted many live broadcasts during the anti-extradition movement.
The Hong Kong government used long-forgotten laws to accuse media organizations of incitement for the first time since the transfer of sovereignty in 1997.
Chung was sentenced to 21 months in prison, while Lam’s sentencing starting point was 14 months. However, due to health issues, the judge allowed Lam to be released immediately. Lam later appealed his conviction. National security-designated judge Kwok Wai-kin rejected the argument that the defendants were simply carrying out their journalistic duties, claiming instead that they were “participating in what was then called the protest movement.”
Chung was released on July 10 this year after completing 21 months in prison without a third of his prison terms reduced, as is usually granted to inmates with good behavior.
Another well-known online media outlet, Citizen News, stopped operations after the Stand News manhunt, saying, “We are in the eye of the storm. Our small boat is in a serious situation amid high winds and waves. In a crisis, we must first ensure that everyone on board is safe and sound.”
By Leo Cheung
