Two former editors in chief of ‘Stand News,’ Chung Pui-kuen and Patrick Lam, convicted of “conspiracy to publish seditious publications,” were on Thursday sentenced to 21 and 11 months in prison respectively. Mr. Lam was released on health grounds, having already spent the length of the sentence in pre-trial detention, but Mr. Chung will be jailed.
The Hong Kong Journalists Association believes the two men’s conviction and sentences reflects the ongoing decline of press freedom in Hong Kong and the real dangers media workers in the territory are facing while performing their duties.
The prosecution of Mr. Chung and Mr. Lam has caused irreversible harm to the Hong Kong journalism industry. ‘Stand News’ was forced to cease operations after its assets were frozen without prosecution or trial, resulting in many journalists losing their jobs.
HKJA opposes using sedition and national security laws to prosecute people who exercise their rights and perform journalism in accordance with Hong Kong’s Basic Law.
While the media is not a “lawless place” where anything goes, it is an indisputable fact that the number of issues and type of commentary that can be reported and published in Hong Kong is significantly reduced compared to the past. HKJA has expressed concern in the past that prosecutors in the ‘Stand News’ case, nor the judge in issuing his verdict, have not drawn clear boundaries for the media industry when it comes to sedition, even as the maximum penalty has increased to 7 years.
This uncertainty can only make journalists in Hong Kong more worried about being blamed at every turn, hampering their ability to perform their constitutionally protected duties.
During the ‘Stand News’ trial, prosecutors significantly expanded the scope of the case. They not only introduced articles, interviews and op-eds but also cross-examined witnesses, including former ‘Stand News’ reporters, about the wording of their articles and intention behind them. This has intensified an ongoing trend towards greater self-censorship among Hong Kong media.
HKJA emphasizes that there is nothing wrong with safeguarding national security, but allowing journalists to speak out and enabling society to speak freely is necessary to maintain Hong Kong’s prosperity and stability, and is also an important part of promoting the city’s international image. Officials may insist that Hong Kong’s press freedom is unhampered, but the public knows the truth.
Hong Kong Journalists Association
September 26, 2024