Stephen Vines

Stephen Vines made a high profile exit from Hong Kong in 2021, widely covered by international media outlets. This followed the increasingly harsh roll out of measures to suppress civil liberties, not least involving a crackdown on freedom of speech and incarceration of journalists. His latest book, ‘Defying the Dragon: Hong Kong and the World’s Largest Dictatorship’, was banned from display in Hong Kong’s mainstream bookstores. His television and radio broadcasting career was brought to an end by a severe clampdown at RTHK, the public broadcaster. Writing for local outlets, not least a weekly column in the closed down Apple Daily newspaper, suggested he was on one of the many black lists operated by the regime. Vines now lives in Britain where he continues his writing and speaking career.