In the shadow of the National Security Law: what remains of Hong Kong independent journalism?

Trouble with the Truth

On the surface, Hong Kong remains a dazzling city and a successful financial hub with hundreds of thousands of visitors every year. However, local journalists and activists will tell you a very different story. In 2019-2020, Hong-Kong was swept up in a wave of protests in response to the draconian National Security Law introduced by China to end Hong Kong’s autonomy from the mainland. Despite the backlash, the bill became a reality. The wide list of provisions includes sending cases for trial in mainland China, holding trials behind closed doors and letting pro-Beijing legislators interpret the law - to name just a few. Moreover, incorporated into the law is Article 23 that criminalises everything that it deems as secession, subversion, extremism and collusion with foreign or external forces. In 2021, two of the largest outlets Apple Daily and Stand News, became the first victims and were forced to shut down. Many more independent media outlets closed since then fearing repercussions. Hundreds of journalists covering the Umbrella protests were beaten and detained. A group of pro-democracy campaigners ‘Hong-Kong 47’ were charged with sedition and most of them are still awaiting sentencing.

In this episode of Trouble with the Truth, Lana talks to a Hong-Kong based journalist who preferred to remain anonymous. They tell us about the chilling effect of the NSL on Hong-Kong’s once thriving media and their own trauma at witnessing their offices being raided by police. They also discuss how the nature of journalism has changed since the introduction of the law and why there is still a strong appetite for honest reporting.