Chairman of the Journalist Association Guards the Last Frontier of Hong Kong Press Freedom

April 5 is the 55th Anniversary of the Hong Kong Journalist Association. However, what was meant to be celebratory, is no more but dread and defeat.

Ronson Chan, a former reporter of now-defunct Stand News, became a household name during the 2019 Hong Kong Protests among freedom-seeking Hongkongers and the democracy camp (Yellow Camp).

Chan would regularly livestream on Facebook, following the Hong Kong Police clashing with protesters, abusing first aid responders, medical staff, legislators, and journalists. During the anti-extradition movement, the Hong Kong Police were criticized for their violence and brutality against old or young protesters and social workers who tried to mediate their clashes with protesters.

From tear gas to pepper spray, Chan captured the fierce moments on camera and experienced them firsthand.

Since then, Chan has become the Hong Kong Journalist Association president. But everything was different for him.

On April 1, Chan issued HKJA members a letter. In the note, he expressed his regrets that they could not celebrate the 55th Anniversary together publicly, or organize a publicized event, due to “all kinds of reasons.”

By that, Chan meant political reasons.

“Frankly, I am worried about the freedom of the press and the difficult road ahead as a number of members have been slipping.”

Sorrow, worry, and frustration lingered in Chan’s letter.

Not in the Mood

“No banquet, no congratulation, no cake.” Chan made it clear he was in no mood for celebration despite everything seemingly slowly returning to “normal” after months of lockdowns.

But was that the real reason?

When The Epoch Times reporters asked further, Chan said, “I do not dare.”

He dared not organize any celebrations after witnessing the Democratic Party’s experience.

Retaliation of Pro-CC People

The Democratic Party intended to hold a spring dinner party in February. But the dinner party was canceled at the last minute three times by three different restaurants citing “emergency maintenance” and could not provide service in the evening.

Media reports speculated that pro-government people pressured the restaurant groups and instructed them to refuse service to The Democratic Party.

Chan suspected the potential of HKJA’s dinner would also end up like The Democratic Party due to political reasons.

But there was something else on Chan’s mind.

He was deeply anxious for his former colleagues and friends who once worked alongside him on the front line in the anti-extradition protests. His former colleagues from Stand News had been awaiting sentencing while the National Security Law trial involving former Apple Daily members had begun.

With the drop in the number of HKJA members coupled the fading of local enthusiasm for HKJA events and journalists moving away, everything reminded Chan of surreal feelings and bad times.

There were 900 members at the Hong Kong Journalist Association peak in 2019. However, only 50 percent remained at the beginning of 2023.

Not only was Chan worried for his closest colleagues, the freedom of the press, also had to worry about the longevity of the Association.

Where are Hong Kong Journalists

The decrease in HKJA members originated from the disappearance of news and media agencies and journalistic professionals migrating to other countries.

Chan also explained that some former staff of Stand News and Apple Daily, both defunct, had quit journalism and changed their line of work altogether.

Unrecognizable Faces

Chan said he could not recognize the faces of the journalist on TV when he watched the news lately. Some also appeared to be very green.

He believed the work population had changed drastically.

“Hong Kong Journalist Association is never complete Without “Hong Kong” or “Journalists.”

Chan hoped the work and responsibilities HKJA had shouldered in the past few years could show his fellow journalists Hong Kong Journalists Association would be the only way to defend the freedom of the press and the rights and interests of journalists in Hong Kong.

With that being said, he pleaded with every journalist to continue encouragement for each other so that the industry could remain tall in the storm.

National Security Law Strangles Press Freedom

In addition to the change of profession and migration, Ronson noticed that the number of students enrolling in journalism at universities had dropped.

Ronson said many were concerned that dipping into a journalistic career was still a safe choice.

He added, “the difficulties news and creative freedom face now are getting tougher. Satire comics also became a target for political attacks and criticism.”

Being in the journalistic field is not for the faint of heart. Chan agreed that not everyone could bear the pressure, especially the possible legal consequences.

National Security Law, the Biggest Hurdle for Press Freedom

Hong Kong Journalist Association used to be a reputable and respected organization. The annual dinner was usually attended by the governor or the Hong Kong chief executive.

But that changed after the national security law. Suddenly, The Association or its opinions no longer mattered.

In addition to the members letter Cliff Bale, former president of HKJA, penned for the 55th Anniversary.

Bale worked for Radio Television Hong Kong for 29 years, initially as a reporter on political affairs. He reported on Sino-British negotiations on Hong Kong’s post-1997 future, political developments, and various elections in Hong Kong.

Bale recalled in the 1960s that, when the Association was first established, it focused on improving journalists’ salaries and working conditions.

Hong Kong’s press freedom reached the most significant turning point in the 1980s.

Article 27 of the Basic Law states that having freedom of the press is part of the fundamental rights of Hong Kong residents.

Later, the Association turned its attention to abolishing or amending outdated colonial laws that would have restricted freedom of speech.

In the amended Television Ordinance, the provision which allowed the government to shut down TV stations was removed permanently, but the crime of sedition remained.

Recently, the Chinese government has been using the sedition provision to arrest several reporters, including a former Association executive committee.

Bale pointed out that after the transfer of sovereignty in Hong Kong in 1997. “The SAR government seemed uninterested in continuing safeguarding freedom of speech.”

Instead, the government seemed more concerned about restricting access in the name of privacy.

Bale added the ban on “fake news,” which the authorities enforced, allowes the government to prosecute anyone for anything it disliked.

Bale ended his note to the HKJA members, “It would be sad if only pro-Beijing groups and pro-government individuals were allowed to operate and speak. That would be the ultimate death knell for freedom of expression in Hong Kong.”