Hong Kong authorities recently launched a review of independent but state-funded broadcaster RTHK following accusations it was overly sympathetic to pro-democracy protests. Sharron Fast, deputy director at Hong Kong University's journalism programme, said the clause about foreign media in the new law "sounds ominously like Hong Kong will move towards a China-style press credential requirement". And the city's press corps routinely barrages officials with the kind of critical questioning that would be unthinkable north of the border. However, even before the security law, local media were under pressure, with advertising often drying up for the most Beijing-critical outlets. "Journalists in Hong Kong will do as much as they can for as long as they can," she said.

Source: Daily Nation July 19, 2020 04:52 UTC