The Media Freedom Coalition issued a statement on Feb. 8 regarding ongoing closures of media outlets in Hong Kong as mainland China continues to infringe on the freedom of the press.
In a press release from last week, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) underscored that mainland Chinese authorities are continuing to attack the freedom of the press in Hong Kong, and have tried to suppress independent local media in the city, an issue that is causing significant concern for the Media Freedom Coalition.
"A stable and prosperous Hong Kong in which human rights and fundamental freedoms are protected should be in everybody’s interest," said State Department officials in the press release.
Recently, Chinese authorities raided Stand News offices and arrested its staff, an action that has led to the self-closure of Citizen News stemming from concern over the safety of its own staff, according to the press release.
In June of 2020, China enacted the National Security Law, which allows authorities to target and suppressed independent media in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Under the new law, the freedom of the press and protected rights of publications outlined in the Basic Law are undermined, as are China’s obligations under the Sino-British Joint Declaration, the DOS Media Freedom Coalition reported.
