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The Hong Kong Journalists Association (HKJA) released its annual press freedom index on Tuesday, and gave Hong Kong a score of 25 out of 100—the worst since the survey's inception. 92% of journalists said Article 23, the national security law the city enacted in March, has had a significant impact on press freedom.
Media tycoon Jimmy Lai, founder of the now-defunct pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily, faces charges for “conspiracy to collude with foreign forces” and "conspiracy to publish incitement." His colleagues from Apple Daily are also in prison, awaiting verdict.
The CFHK Foundation expresses concern over the deteriorating state of media freedom in Hong Kong and reaffirms its commitment to supporting Jimmy Lai, Gwyneth Ho, and all other journalists who advocate for justice, media freedom, democracy, and the rule of law.
Jimmy Lai’s Trial Update
Lai's trial is expected to resume on November 20th for further proceedings, including his testimony.
Lai has been imprisoned for over 1,300 days on national security law charges without a verdict. The trial did not begin until he had been held for two years and has been characterised by its sluggish pace. Proceedings were expected to be completed this past spring; instead, the defence has not even started to present its evidence. The CFHK Foundation condemns this appalling delay, one which clearly illustrates the erosion of the rule of law in Hong Kong.
Detailed trial updates available here: Support Jimmy Lai
Jonny Dymond of BBC World at One interviewed former Labour Justice Secretary Lord Falconer about British judge Lord David Neuberger's role in upholding the convictions of pro-democracy advocates in a Hong Kong court. Lord Falconer criticised the CCP for using “the justice system to shut Jimmy Lai up,” and said Lord Neuberger had “been turned from being a defender of freedom to being an instrument of oppression.”
Hong Kong
Hong Kong authorities have denied Bloomberg News journalist Haze Fan a visa to work at their Hong Kong bureau without providing explanation. Fan currently works out of Bloomberg’s London bureau. Previously she was a journalist with Bloomberg News in Beijing, where authorities arrested her in July 2021 on suspicion of committing crimes endangering national security. Fan was released on bail and without charge in January 2022. Before Fan joined Bloomberg’s Beijing bureau in January 2017, she held producer roles at CNBC, Al Jazeera, CBS, and Reuters.
🔥'Flame of Freedom' Blog
The Complex Morality of British Judges in Hong Kong
This blog is authored by James Joseph, Managing Director at the Duty Legacy.
“The crux of the issue is that by lending their credibility to Hong Kong's judicial process, British judges are effectively providing political cover for a system that has become increasingly authoritarian and intolerant of dissent. This is not just a matter of individual hypocrisy, but a systemic problem that threatens to undermine the reputation of the British legal system as a whole.”
Read More Here.
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