Freedom House says the protection provided by the "One Country, Two Systems" principle to Hong Kong people is getting less "robust". File photo: RTHK
An American think tank on global freedom and free press has raised fears about Beijing breaking its promise of implementing the "One Country, Two Systems" principle in Hong Kong, following the mysterious disappearance of five booksellers who sold books critical of state leaders.
The annual report by Freedom House dedicated a chapter on Hong Kong titled "Beijing's creeping control over Hong Kong media". It said televised interviews given by the Causeway Bay booksellers were widely seen as coerced.
"In that light, the 2015 disappearances looked like a warning against disseminating information that is perceived as undermining [Chinese Communist Party] rule", the report said.
Freedom House also cited Alibaba's acquisition of the South China Morning Post as another example that deepened concerns over Beijing's growing influence on Hong Kong's media.
"Hong Kong residents are, in theory, still shielded from the worst mainland abuses by the 'One Country, Two Systems principle. But every year, that protection seems less robust", the report said.
On the mainland, the think tank noted that liberal publications encountered growing financial and political pressures, while there was a growing influence of party mouthpieces and state-subsidised outlets.
The report also showed that global press freedom last year had declined to its lowest point in 12 years as "political, criminal and terrorist forces sought to co-opt or silence the media in their broader struggle for power".
Freedom House is a US-based nonpartisan, government funded non-governmental organisation.
http://news.rthk.hk/rthk/en/component/k2/1257089-20160428.htm
