Voice of America sister agency Radio Free Asia has closed its physical bureau in Hong Kong after nearly three decades in the city due to the deteriorating press freedom situation, the agency announced in a statement on Friday. No longer staffed full-time.
“Due to concerns for the safety of Radio Free Asia staff and journalists in Hong Kong, we have restructured our field operations in Hong Kong. While Radio Free Asia will retain its official media registration, we currently no longer have full-time staff in Hong Kong and have closed our physical office,” Radio Free Asia Chairman Fang Fang said in a statement.
The news comes less than a week after Hong Kong enacted Section 23 of its national security law, which media regulators warned would further erode press freedoms in the city.
The new law is a domestic extension of Beijing’s controversial national security law implemented in 2020, which criminalizes secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign powers. Article 23 builds on this legislation and also criminalizes espionage, external interference and theft of state secrets.
Press freedom groups including Reporters Without Borders (RSF) have expressed concern about the new law.
Cedric Alviani, Asia-Pacific director of Reporters Without Borders, said: “By incorporating Beijing-imposed national security provisions into Hong Kong’s domestic law, the government hopes to restore the illusion of a lawful territory while continuing to crack down on independent voices. ” the director said in a statement before the law was enacted.
“We urge democracies to put pressure on the Chinese authorities so that full press freedom can be restored to the territory,” Alviani continued.
Radio Free Asia established a branch in Hong Kong in 1996, specifically citing Article 23 of Radio Free Asia as the reason for leaving Hong Kong.
“The actions of the Hong Kong authorities, including referring to Radio Free Asia as a ‘foreign power,’ raise serious questions about our ability to operate safely following the enactment of Article 23,” Fong said in a statement.
VOA has contacted the Hong Kong Security Bureau for comment.
For years, Hong Kong has been praised for its active and free media environment, but with the introduction of the 2020 national security law, Hong Kong’s press freedom and other civil liberties have rapidly deteriorated.
Hong Kong and Chinese authorities deny that the law is harming Hong Kong’s media environment, saying instead that it helps stabilize the city.
An example of the threats facing independent media in Hong Kong is the ongoing national security trial of pro-democracy publisher Jimmy Lai.
The 76-year-old British citizen has been charged with “collusion with foreign powers” and sedition under the national security law, both of which he denies. If convicted, Jimmy Lai faces life in prison.
Hong Kong officials have denied Lai’s trial was unfair, but press freedom groups and Western governments have denounced the charges as politically motivated and baseless.
Although Radio Free Asia is leaving Hong Kong, the media outlet said it will continue to cover Hong Kong.
“This reorganization means Radio Free Asia will move to a different news model reserved for closed media environments,” Fang said in a statement.
“To viewers in Hong Kong and mainland China who rely on Radio Free Asia’s timely, uncensored news coverage: please rest assured that our programming and content will continue without interruption,” she said.
Follow us on Google news ,Twitter , and Join Whatsapp Group of thelocalreport.in
