Britain and Hong Kong: No panderers, please: this issue’s black and white | The Economist–Leader Time for Britain to rediscover its moral compass and confront China over Hong Kong // wasn’t that compass pawned?
Related: Hong Kong’s media: Tamed hounds | The Economist But in the past two years several news organisations have experienced management shake-ups and worrying episodes of intimidation. The South China Morning Post, Hong Kong’s leading English-language newspaper, has recently installed a number of senior editors who have worked at mainland newspapers or agencies. Frustrated journalists at the paper tell of stories that are critical of China often being toned down or dropped altogether. In February Commercial Radio axed Li Wei-ling, a talk-show host who frequently takes the government to task; she accused her employer of bowing to government pressure in exchange for the renewal of its licence. In January Kevin Lau, Ming Pao’s chief editor, was removed, to the shock and anger of many of the paper’s reporters. Then, onFebruary 26th, Mr Lau was nearly killed in a knife attack.
Related: Violence And Other Threats Raise Press Freedom Fears In Hong Kong : Parallels : NPR An independent judiciary and a free press are the mainstays of that autonomy, and anxious residents say those pillars are slowly being weakened under increasing pressure from the Hong Kong government, and the central Chinese government in Beijing. The Hong Kong Journalists Association’s annual report, “Press Freedom Under Siege,” cited Ming Pao’s last-minute headline change as an example of a pattern of censorship, violence and interference.
