The Hong Kong Foreign Correspondents Association (FCCHK) announced the suspension of the Press Human Rights Award to avoid retaliation and risks for media professionals working in an increasingly repression scenario in Hong Kong.
The winners would be announced on Tuesday, May 3, celebrating World Press Freedom Day.
At the same time as the announcement of the cancellation, British NGO Hong Kong Watch published a report on press freedom in the region, stating: “The working environment has become increasingly difficult for domestic and foreign journalists in Hong Kong.”
Fear of breach of law silenced Hong Kong press
The FFCHK’s decision not to receive the traditional human rights award reflects the climate of fear experienced by journalists, vehicles and other media workers almost two years after a new national security law was passed.
Gone It was decided by the Chinese government in 2020 in response to the struggle for democracy in the former British colony.
In a statement announcing the cancellation decision, the association attributed the decision to the environment of “significant uncertainty” experienced in the past two years, which has caused Hong Kong journalists to work under “new ‘red lines’ that determine what is allowed and what is not”.
According to the Correspondents’ Association, the award may represent unintentional violations of the law.
“We looked into other options but couldn’t find a viable way forward,” said Keith Richburg, president of the Foreign Correspondents Club.
He added that recent events may require the club to change its strategy as it continues to support freedom of the press.
Three major media outlets have been shut down since the law went into effect, namely Apple Daily, Stand News, and Citizen News.
Apple Daily was part of a major publishing conglomerate called Next, whose owner, billionaire Jimmy Lai, was arrested and convicted. The group closed its doors.
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Prize winners may violate security law
Among the works to be awarded were the reports he published. Stand News was shut down after police raided its newsroom in December and arrested editors and executives.
According to documents accessed by the American newspaper The Washington Post, some of the winning news covered topics such as police responsibility in the Hong Kong protests in 2019 and newsrooms and civic organizations that have since been shut down.
However, the cancellation of the tribute did not please everyone. Senior documentary producer Connie Lo, one of the judges for the four award categories, said the suspension was an “insult to the journalism industry”.
“Reporters often had to risk their lives to do their jobs,” Lo said. “This year’s award will have special meaning for journalists from now-defunct outlets.”
Mary Hui, a reporter for the financial news site Quartz, was one of eight members who resigned in protest from the Foreign Correspondents Club’s press freedom committee last week.
Hui described the club’s decision as “sad and disappointing”.
“By canceling the awards, I think we are sending a very worrying message that advocating freedom of the press as the stated mission of the Foreign Correspondents Club is no longer sustainable.”
Ronson Chan, president of the Hong Kong Journalists’ Association, said it was “sad but understandable” that the awards were abruptly cancelled.
He added that the award will be “in recognition of journalists who dedicate their hearts and souls to the work of reporting.”
Another journalist participating in the award, Allan Au was arrested two weeks ago for alleged “conspiracy to publish provocative material”.a crime punishable by up to two years’ imprisonment.
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Au’s arrest marked the first time authorities had targeted an individual professional rather than a newsroom executive. The veteran journalist was released on bail approximately 17 hours after his arrest.
The Foreign Correspondents Association was founded in China in 1943 and transferred to Hong Kong six years later.
The Human Rights Press Awards are among the oldest and most prestigious awards for journalism in Asia.
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source: Noticias
