Chung Pui-kuen 鍾沛權

Chung Pui-kuen is the founder and former Chief Editor of Stand News (立場新聞), a prominent pro-democracy media outlet that operated from 2014 until 2021, when it was raided by the Hong Kong Police Force and subsequently shut down.  

Chung graduated from politics and public administration at the Chinese University of Hong Kong in 1991 and began his career as a staff member at the now-defunct union, the Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions (HKCTU). In 1995, he transitioned into journalism, working as a financial reporter for publications such as Ming Pao and Hong Kong Economic Times. In 2012, he became Chief Editor of House News, the precursor to Stand News, and held the position until the outlet ceased operations in 2014. [1] 

Chung then co-founded Stand News along with Yu Ka-fai and Tony Tsoi Tung-ho, and articulated a clear editorial mission to stand up for values such as democracy and human rights — hence the name. “We deeply believe in the importance of independence,” he wrote, adding that Stand News would “speak up for the powerless, the underprivileged and minorities”. [2] 

Under Chung’s leadership, Stand News became widely recognised for its courageous reporting on social movements and political developments. The outlet earned both local and international acclaim for its role in holding power to account and amplifying dissenting voices, and received multiple honours at the Human Rights Press Awards, including wins in the categories of Breaking News Writing, Explanatory Feature Writing, and Short Video. [3]  

On 29 December 2021, Stand News was raided by the Hong Kong Police Force, six senior staff members of the outlet, including Chung, Editor-in-chief Patrick Lam, former legislator Margaret Ng, singer and activist Denise Ho, Chow Tat-chi, and Christine Fang, were arrested on charges of “conspiracy to distribute seditious publications.” The police raided the Stand News headquarters, cordoned off the area, and searched the premises, preventing reporters from entering. [4] 

In the aftermath of the raid, Stand News was accused of publishing “seditious articles” that allegedly incited hatred against the authorities. The police also froze HK$61 million in assets related to Stand News. By 11 pm that day, Stand News had removed all content from its website and social media accounts, announcing its closure and reiterating its commitment to editorial independence and its core values. [5] 

Following his arrest, Chung spent 11 months in detention while awaiting trial. In Oct 2022, he formally pleaded not guilty to the charges laid against him. Two months later, on Dec 13, 2022, he was granted conditional cash bail of HK$100,000. After a prolonged legal process, Chung was found guilty on Aug 29, 2024. He was subsequently sentenced to one year and nine months in prison. [6] [7]