Press freedom in Hong Kong threatened again, as police announce fresh curbs

This appeared in The Millennial Source

The idea of a free press has been challenged several times by the authorities in Hong Kong since the pro-democracy movement erupted in the region last year.

Hong Kong authorities announced curbs on press freedom with an announcement by the Hong Kong police on Tuesday, September 24, that the credentials of certain news outlets and journalists would no longer be recognized.

According to the new guidelines, journalists from media houses that are not officially recognized by the government will have restricted access to press briefings. This includes outlets that are accredited by local press associations such as the Hong Kong Journalists Association (HKJA) and Hong Kong Press Photographers Association (HKPPA) representing a large community of journalists in Hong Kong. Only “internationally recognized and renowned” foreign media outlets and news organizations registered with the government will be recognized by the police.

Critics have accused the Hong Kong authorities of trying to create a government licensing system that challenges the autonomy of the press and threatens the media’s role as a watchdog over the activities of the police and the administration.