2020-09-01

Media of Hong Kong - Wikipedia

Media of Hong Kong - Wikipedia

Media of Hong Kong
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The Hong Kong media consists of several different types of communications of mass media: television, radio, cinema, newspapers, magazines, websites and other online platforms.


Contents
1Overview
2Law
2.1Media authorities
2.2Media regulation
3Media
3.1Television
3.2Radio
3.3Book publishers
3.4Newspapers
3.5Magazines
3.6Public space media
3.7Online media
4Media organisations
5Media freedom
6Controversies
6.1Credibility
6.2Yellow journalism
6.3National security
6.4Capitalising on victims
6.5Invasion of privacy
6.6Violent assault on editor
6.7Siege of Apple Daily and attacks aimed at media owner
6.82015 Policy address controversy
6.9Sino United returns controversy
6.10Booksellers disappearances
6.112020 Appledaily Arrests Controversy
7See also
8References
9Further reading
Overview[edit]

Hong Kong is home to many of Asia's biggest media entities and remains one of the world's largest film industries.[1] The loose regulation over the establishment of a newspaper makes Hong Kong home to many international media such as the Asian Wall Street Journal and Far Eastern Economic Review, and publications with anti-Communist backgrounds such as The Epoch Times (which is funded by Falun Gong). It also once had numerous newspapers funded by Kuomintang of Taiwan but all of them were terminated due to poor financial performance. The Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong publishes Kung Kao Po, a weekly newspaper. Apple Daily and Oriental Daily News are the two best selling newspapers, according to AC Nielsen, accounting for more than 60% of readership. Both are known for their anti-Hong Kong government political positions, colourful presentations and sensational news reportage. Whereas Apple Daily is strongly regarded as pro-democracy, Oriental Daily is inclined to be pro-China government. Traditional PRC government-friendly journals, Ta Kung Pao and Wen Wei Po, are owned by the Central Government Liaison Office.[2] In December 2015, the South China Morning Post – Hong Kong's newspaper of record – was acquired by the Alibaba Group, with the declared aim of promoting an alternative pro-China narrative to international media.[3]

The freedom of press is protected by the Bill of Rights,[4] in contrast to the rest of China where control over media is pervasive. However, this freedom has been in decline since the transfer of sovereignty over Hong Kong in 1997. According to the Reporters Without Borders, Hong Kong enjoyed "real press freedom" and ranked second in Asia after Japan in the Press Freedom Index, although it has been rapidly declining. Different views over topics sensitive in mainland China, such as the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989, Chinese Communist Party (CCP) rule, and democracy are still dynamically discussed among the media. Many books banned in China, such as the memoir of Zhao Ziyang, a former CCP party leader who stepped down in 1989, continue to be published in Hong Kong.[5]

In 2002, Hong Kong had:
Daily newspapers: 52
Chinese-language dailies: 27
English-language dailies: 3
English-language newspapers publishing 5 or 6 days a week: 6
Bilingual dailies: 5
Newspapers in other languages: 7
Free-to-air commercial TV companies: 3
Subscription TV licensees: 4
Non-domestic television programme licensees: 12
Government radio-television station: 1
Commercial radio stations: 2
Law[edit]
Media authorities[edit]

Formerly, three statutory bodies regulated media in Hong Kong, with another statutory body acting as an independent broadcaster:
Hong Kong Broadcasting Authority (BA) regulates broadcasters in Hong Kong by licensing and penalties according to the Broadcasting Regulation.
Television and Entertainment Licensing Authority (TELA) is responsible for monitoring television and radio broadcasting to secure proper standards.
Telecommunications Authority, (OFCA) the regulatory agency which applied held legislative power over antitrust, spectrum allocation and telecommunications legislation.
Radio Television Hong Kong operates as an independent government broadcaster with 7 radio channels and 3 television channels, whilst also producing programmes for public dissemination.

In 2012, BA, OFCA and TELA were merged into one to form the new Communications Authority, which combined all the functions of its three predecessor organisations in one.[6]

Non-Governmental bodies:
Press Council was established in July 2000. The objective of the Council is to promote the professional and ethical standards of the newspaper industry, defend press freedom, and deal with public complaints against local newspapers. It is an independent organisation.[7]
Media regulation[edit]

Freedom of the press and publication are enshrined in Article 27 of the Basic Law, Hong Kong's mini-constitution, and are also protected by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) under Article 39 of the Basic Law.

There is no law called "media law" in Hong Kong. Instead, the media are governed by statutory laws. In brief, there are 31 Ordinances that are directly related to mass media. Six of which are highlighted below.
Registration of Local Newspapers Ordinance (Cap. 268), provides for the registration of local newspapers and news agencies and the licensing of newspaper distributors.
Books Registration Ordinance (Cap. 142) (Cap. 106), provides for the registration and preservation of copies of books first printed, produced or published in Hong Kong.
Telecommunications Ordinance (Cap. 106), makes better provision for the licensing and control of telecommunications, telecommunications services and telecommunications apparatus and equipment.
Control of Obscene and Indecent Articles Ordinance (Cap. 390) controls and classifies articles which consist of or contain material that is obscene or indecent. Obscene Articles Tribunals are established to determine whether an article is obscene or indecent.
Broadcasting Authority Ordinance (Cap. 391), provides for the establishment and functions of a Broadcasting Authority.
Broadcasting Ordinance (Cap. 562), licenses companies to provide broadcasting services and regulate the provision of broadcasting services by licensees.

The rest of the Ordinances are of less importance since they do not aim at regulating mass media, but some of their provisions do affect the operation of media organisations and also the freedom of press.

The passing of Bill of Rights Ordinance (BORO) in 1986 strengthened the protection of fundamental human rights like press freedom or freedom of speech. This has been reflected in the loosening of control over mass media. Laws that violate the principle of press freedom are gradually amended. For example, section 27 of Public Order Ordinance, which criminalised the publishing of false news, was repealed in 1989.

Nonetheless, there are still concerns among the media sector that some existing laws may still undermine the freedom of the press and publication, e.g. Official Secrets Ordinance (Cap. 521) and Public Order Ordinance (Cap. 245).
Media[edit]

Schema of media control by the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in Hong Kong
Television[edit]
Main article: Television in Hong Kong

Hong Kong has two broadcast television stations, ATV and TVB. The latter, launched in 1967, was the territory's first free-to-air commercial station, and is currently the predominant TV station in the territory. Paid cable and satellite television have also been widespread. The production of Hong Kong's soap drama, comedy series and variety shows have reached mass audiences throughout the Chinese-speaking world. Many international and pan-Asian broadcasters are based in Hong Kong, including News Corporation's STAR TV. Hong Kong's terrestrial commercial TV networks, Christian Broadcasting Network Of Hong Kong, TVB and ATV, can also be seen in neighbouring Guangdong and Macau (via cable).

However, ATV has seen a gradual decline in production quality and audience rating in recent years and faces financial difficulties. Its false report of death of Jiang Zemin severely damaged its credibility.[8] On 1 April 2015, Hong Kong's Executive Council gave notice that ATV's terrestrial television licence would not be renewed and that it would instead end on 1 April 2016.[9] RTHK and newcomer HKTVE (owned by Richard Li's PCCW which also owns the IPTV service Now TV) took over the frequencies of ATV since April 2, 2016. In May 2017, Fantastic Television started its free-to-air broadcast.
Radio[edit]
Main article: List of radio stations in Hong Kong
Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) – government-funded, operates seven networks in Cantonese, Mandarin and English
Commercial Radio (CR) – operates CR1, CR2 networks in Cantonese and mediumwave (AM) English-language station AM 864
Metro Radio Hong Kong (MRHK) – operates Metro Showbiz, Metro Finance and English-language Metro Plus
Book publishers[edit]

Sino United Publishing, formed in 1988 through merger of some of the historic publishing agencies, is Hong Kong's largest integrated publishing group. It has an estimated 80% share of the book publishing market.[10][2] It is Hong Kong's largest Chinese-language publishing group, has 51 retail outlets in the territory,[10] and is wholly owned by Central Government Liaison Office, which also owns newspaper titles Ta Kung Pao and Wen Wei Po.[2][11]
Newspapers[edit]
Main article: List of newspapers in Hong Kong

According to independent surveys conducted by The Chinese University of Hong Kong, South China Morning Post and Ming Pao are the most trusted newspapers in Hong Kong.[12]

The Chinese language newspapers Headline Daily, Oriental Daily News, Apple Daily and Sun Daily have the highest shares in the Hong Kong newspaper market, while the Hong Kong Economic Times is the best-selling financial newspaper. The Standard, a free tabloid with a mass market strategy, is the most widely circulated English newspaper by a significant margin. Its rival, South China Morning Post, Hong Kong's newspaper of record,[3] has the most paid subscribers among English-language papers in Hong Kong. Since its purchase by Malaysian tycoon Robert Kuok's Kerry Media The South China Morning Post has gradually become pro-China, pro-establishment publication. It was announced on 11 December 2015 that Alibaba Group would acquire the South China Morning Post from Robert Kuok, who has owned it since 1993.[3] Alibaba said that the acquisition was made out of the desire to improve China's image in light of the western bias of the journal.[13] The latest to join the newspaper scene is HK01, which launched in March 2016. As a Hong Kong-based advocacy media, HK01 are dedicated to disrupting discussion with interactive multimedia storytelling through the Web, print and physical space. Readers can take advantage of its in-depth reporting and all-round analysis in current affairs, local stories and lifestyle features that will help them evolve into critical thinkers.
Magazines[edit]
This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.
Weekly:
Next Magazine
East Touch
East Week
Fashion & Beauty
Sudden Weekly
Face
Ming Pao Weekly
U Magazine
Weekend Weekly
Tao
Yoho
Three Weekly
New Monday
Whiz Kids Express Weekly
Capital Weekly
HK Magazine

Bi-Weekly:
bc magazine
Time Out

Monthly:
JESSICA
JESSICACODE
Elle
CosmoGIRL!
Cosmopolitan
Harper's Bazaar
Jet
JMen
HIM
Elle Men
Esquire 《君子雜誌》
Men's Uno
MRRM
Marie Claire 《瑪利嘉兒》
Capital
Capital CEO
Capital Entrepreneur
ExperiXonl 中文商業雜誌月刊
Hong Kong Tatler
City Magazine 《號外》
Cheng Ming Magazine 《爭鳴》 (1977–2017[14])
Sai Kung Magazine
PIPELINE
BC Magazine
BOOM Magazine
Marketing Magazine
CarPlus 《車王》
PCM 《電腦廣場》
CAZBuyer 《車買家》
Spiral 《游絲腕表》
CUP Magazine 《茶杯雜誌》
Prestige Hong Kong
The Young Reporter
San Po Yan 《新報人》
The Trend (1978–2017[14])

Quarterly:
BENCHMARK Magazine(指標)
Public space media[edit]
RoadShow
Newsline Express
Online media[edit]

Stand News (立場新聞) (Chinese)
Hong Kong Citizen News (眾新聞) (Chinese)
HK01 (香港01) (Chinese)
Truth Media Hong Kong (TMHK) (Chinese)
Initium Media (端傳媒) (Chinese)
The News Lens (關鍵評論網) (Bilingual news in English & Chinese)
EJInsight – English service of the Hong Kong Economic Journal
Inkstone News (English)
EP21.org (網政21)(Chinese) (Service ceased)
HK Magazine / Asia City Media Group
HIRADIO HK (係播網絡電台)(Chinese/English)(Service suspend)
Hong Kong Free Press (English)
Hong Kong In-media (香港獨立媒體網) (Chinese)
Hong Kong Television Network, online, since HK Government controversially denied terrestrial broadcast licence in 2013
House News (主場新聞) (Service ceased on 26 July 2014)
"IBHK"(香港網絡廣播電台) / Online radio station. (Cantonese)
Localiiz (English)
CORPHUB
Lifestyle Asia (English)
Local Press (本土新聞) (Chinese)
Open Radio Hong Kong (開台)(Chinese)
Passion Times (熱血時報) (Chinese)
People's Radio Hong Kong (香港人民廣播電台)(Chinese) (Service ceased)
Post 852 (852 郵報) (Chinese)
ExperiXon中文商業雜誌 (ExperiXon 中文商業雜誌) (Chinese)
Sassy Hong Kong (English)
Sassy Mama Hong Kong (English)
TALKONLY.net (講台)(Chinese)
The Real Hong Kong News (English)
United Social Press (社媒) (mostly Chinese)
VJ Media (Chinese)
WardrobeTrendsFashion (English)
Parity Media HK (社衡媒體) (Chinese)
Media organisations[edit]
FactWire – a non-profit news agency
Next Media
Sing Tao News Corporation Limited
SCMP Group
Sino United Publishing – Hong Kong's largest Chinese publishing group, which has 51 retail outlets in the territory.[10]
Media freedom[edit]

Although media freedom in Hong Kong is theoretically guaranteed by a bill of rights, the perceived freedom of the Hong Kong media according to the World Press Freedom Index ranks 61st out of 180 countries in 2014, having slid from 18th place in 2002.[15] Concerns have been brought about by a number of factors and high-profile incidents affecting the media. Pundits and journalists alike have been alarmed at the erosion of journalists' ability to report the news in an objective manner. Journalists have complained about sensitive news stories critical of the government that they have been under undisguised pressure to change or soften.[16] There has also been pressure on organisations including major financial institutions to pull advertising from newspapers that take a pro-democracy or anti-government stance, and the brazen attack on a respected newspaper editor;[17] All told, the incidence of censorship, political pressure to self-censor and intimidation is increasing, according to PEN American Center and the International Federation of Journalists.[17][18][19][20] The Hong Kong Journalists Association noted that there were at least 28 attacks on journalists covering the Umbrella Revolution.[19] The aggressive moves made by publishing houses controlled by Sino United Publishing against independent publishers particularly since the 2014 protests, the unexplained disappearance in 2015 of four individuals linked to an independent publisher of sensitive books, as well as the acquisition of Hong Kong's newspaper of record by Alibaba Group all increased fears of political encroachment on press freedom by parties closely linked to the communist regime.[13][21][22][23][24]
Controversies[edit]
Credibility[edit]

Ethical studies have been conducted by four journalism groups (Hong Kong Journalists Association,[25] Hong Kong News Executives' Association, Hong Kong Federation of Journalists, Hong Kong Press Photographers' Association). They could not deny the fact that the mass media were suffering decreasing respect of Hong Kong citizens. Journalism was no longer seen as a respectable profession. The public had little trust in newspapers. The news industry attributed this phenomenon to the citizens' complaints about the decreasing ethics of journalists.

Stories were exaggerated often violating privacy. A study was conducted by Hong Kong Journalists Association in early 2007 to find that 58.4% of journalists in Hong Kong considered that the degree of freedom of speech had decreased since the handover in 1997. Furthermore, nearly 60% of the interviewed journalists also thought that more self-censorship had been practised then than 1997.[26] Thirty percent of media workers participating in the survey admitted to having self-censored, and some forty percent knew of colleagues who had practised self-censorship. The chairman of the HKJA pointed out that after this self-censorship of media is related to political and economic pressures traceable linked to the Communist Party of China (CPC). She suggested that many media owners are representatives of the National People's Congress, have investments or eye investment opportunities in the mainland and are reluctant to jeopardise the political relationship.[27]
Yellow journalism[edit]

On 19 October 1998, a woman killed her two young children by pushing them out of a window from a high-rise building and then jumped to kill herself. The husband Chan Kin Hong was widely reported to have little remorse on their death, saying he has "high libido" but his wife lost sexual drive after giving a birth to the latest baby and he had to visit prostitutes regularly. He also met another woman and planned to have his new life.

He caused a significant public outcry. Some days later, Apple Daily published a front-page photograph showing Chan with two prostitutes soon after his family's deaths. It was later revealed that the newspaper had paid Chan to pose for the photograph and the newspaper subsequently published a front-page apology.

This incident and other concerns over increasingly aggressive news coverage and paparazzi in the intensive media battles for readers and viewers began widespread public discussions regarding press practices and accompanying ethical concerns that continue to this day over issues of privacy, responsible reporting and journalistic standards.[28]
National security[edit]
Further information: Hong Kong Basic Law Article 23 and National Security (Legislative Provisions) Bill 2003

In 2003, the government attempted to implement the Article 23 of the Basic Law which prohibits crimes against national security and sedition. The National Security (Legislative Provisions) Bill 2003 states that it is a legal offence for media to be seditious and disclose national secrets, but the vague definition led to concerns that it may become a political tool for accusing dissidents' voices, as has happened in Mainland China.

The bill caused a significant public outrage and a mass demonstration of 500,000 people, forcing the government to withdraw the bill and several cabinet members to step down.
Capitalising on victims[edit]

Some nude photos of actress Carina Lau were distributed in East Magazine, and then Three Weekly in the span of a week. The photos were claimed to be taken in the early 90s when that actress was kidnapped. Though people from all social strata have shouted themselves hoarse to call on citizens to boycott the publications, many bought and read them even while condemning them for corrupting public morality. Those issues sold very well. Media ethics were raised as a hot topic; people investing in or working for "vile" publications were much criticised. As the public pressure grew, East Magazine finally ended publication.
Invasion of privacy[edit]
Main article: Gillian Chung § 2006 Nude picture incident

In August 2006, Gillian Chung of the local pop duo Twins filed a writ against Easyfinder Magazine for publishing photos of her changing backstage at a concert in Malaysia. This raised another media ethics and aggressive paparazzi concern. And again, the magazine sold well, printing two runs of the magazine, selling out twice.

The Hong Kong Television and Entertainment Licensing Authority received 2875 complaints regarding the revealing photos and the incident was referred to the Obscene Articles Tribunal for further action.[29] On 1 November 2006, Easy Finder lost its appeal against an obscenity ruling on the published article and pictures.[30] The appeal panel upheld the judgement, declaring the article "obscene", and saying it was a "calculated act of selling sexuality which is corrupting and revolting".[citation needed]
Violent assault on editor[edit]
Main article: Knife attack on Kevin Lau

Kevin Lau, who had been chief editor of the journal until January 2014, was attacked in the morning of 26 February 2014 as he was about to take breakfast at a restaurant in Sai Wan Ho, Hong Kong. He was seriously injured in a targeted knife attack. Journalists and press of the world saw the attack as an attack on press freedom. Thousands of people, led by leading journalists, attended a rally to denounce violence and intimidation of the media.[31]
Siege of Apple Daily and attacks aimed at media owner[edit]

During the Umbrella revolution in 2014, anti-occupation protesters besieged the headquarters of Next Media, publisher of Apple Daily. They accused the paper of biased reporting.[32] Masked men among the protesters prevented the loading of copies of Apple Daily as well as The New York Times onto delivery vans.[33] Apple Daily sought a court injunction and a High Court judge issued a temporary order to prevent any blocking of the entrance.[34]

On 12 November, media tycoon Jimmy Lai was the target of an offal attack at the occupied Admiralty site by three men, who were detained by volunteer marshalls for the protest site.[35][36] The offices of Next Media and the home of Jimmy Lai, who controls the group, were fire-bombed in mid January 2015.[20][37]
2015 Policy address controversy[edit]

In the opening and concluding parts of his 2015 policy address, CY Leung attacked University of Hong Kong Students' Union publication, Undergrad, for allegedly advocating independence and self-determination for Hong Kong. He also criticised another HKU publication, from 2013, entitled Hong Kong Nationalism.[38] He was criticised by pan-democrats and commentators for using the high-profile public address in an unprecedented attempt to undermine free speech and theoretical academic discussion by effectively declaring discussion of the topic "taboo".[39] The number two and number three government officials, Carrie Lam and John Tsang respectively, distanced themselves from Leung, suggesting that Leung's controversial criticism of the magazines was personal and written by Leung himself; Leung insisted it was a team effort.[40]
Sino United returns controversy[edit]

In January 2015, following CY Leung's attack on a compilation book entitled Hong Kong Nationalism, Joint Publishing, Chongwa, and Commercial Press – all owned by Sino United Publishing – de-listed the title.[10] Hong Kong media reported that Sino had published and was distributing at least five anti-Occupy titles, and its stores were displaying these prominently, whereas popular books on the Umbrella movement by pro-democracy authors had been banished from their shelves.[21] In March 2015, Up Publications, a small independent publishing house, complained that it was suddenly and unexpectedly faced with a large number of returns from the three main subsidiaries of Sino.[22] Twenty titles were affected by the returns, to the serious detriment to the finances of Up Publications; many of the titles returned were not politically themed. The publisher was allegedly told by a bookshop source that its stance in the 2014 occupation and its publishing of books supportive of the Umbrella Movement were responsible.[10] Although no reason was given for the returns, political motives were suspected as two of the delisted books about the occupation were strong sellers at independent bookshops.[10][22]
Booksellers disappearances[edit]
Main article: Causeway Bay Books disappearances

The disappearances of five Hong Kong people related to an independent publisher and bookstore in October to December 2015 precipitated an international outcry. The unprecedented disappearance of a person in Hong Kong, and the bizarre events surrounding it, shocked the city and crystallised international concern over the possible abduction of Hong Kong citizens by Chinese public security bureau officials and their likely rendition, and the violation of several articles of the Basic Law and the one country, two systems principle.[41][42][43] There is widespread suspicion that they are under detention in mainland China.[42]
2020 Appledaily Arrests Controversy[edit]

Following the promulgation of the National Security Law in Hong Kong, Appledaily owner Jimmy Lai Chi Ying was arrested for alleged as part of an investigation into an online group that canvassed foreign countries to sanction Hong Kong. On the same day activist Chow Ting Agnes was arrest over NSL offences. The arrests are perceived as acts of suppression on the freedom of press in Hong Kong by the Chinese and HKSAR government.
See also[edit]
Newspapers of China
Censorship in Hong Kong
Communications in Hong Kong
Media of the People's Republic of China
References[edit]

^ "Hong Kong territory profile – Overview". BBC News. Archived from the original on 3 August 2010. Retrieved 3 August 2010.
^ Jump up to:a b c "中聯辦掌控聯合出版集團 擁三大書局兼壟斷發行 議員指涉違《基本法》". Apple Daily (in Chinese). Hong Kong. 9 April 2015. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
^ Jump up to:a b c "Alibaba Buys HK's SCMP to Counter 'Western Bias'". Asia Sentinel. Archived from the original on 17 December 2015. Retrieved 18 December2015.
^ "Hong Kong Bill of Rights". Archived from the original on 25 February 2012. Retrieved 3 August 2010.
^ Johnson, Ian. "'My Personal Vendetta': An Interview with Hong Kong Publisher Bao Pu". Archived from the original on 24 January 2016. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
^ "Communications Authority - Welcome Message". www.coms-auth.hk. Archived from the original on 8 October 2018. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
^ Presscouncil.org.hk "Presscouncil Archived 28 September 2003 at the Wayback Machine." Hong Kong Press Council. Retrieved on 5 May 2007.
^ Chow, Vivienne; Nip, Amy; Cheung, Tony (1 April 2015). "Exco troubled broadcaster ATV's application to renew free-to-air licence". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 1 April2015.
^ Zheng, Anjie; Steger, Isabella (1 April 2015). "Hong Kong's Oldest TV Station, ATV, to shut down". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on 1 April 2015. Retrieved 1 April 2015.
^ Jump up to:a b c d e f Lam, Jeffie (8 March 2015). "Hong Kong book giant in censorship row after returning title" Archived 2 April 2015 at the Wayback Machine. South China Morning Post.
^ Betsy Tse (9 April 2015). "Basic Law violation seen as LOCPG tightens grip on HK publishers". EJ Insight. Archived from the original on 23 December 2015. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 23 December 2015. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
^ Jump up to:a b "Alibaba Buying South China Morning Post, Aiming to Influence Media". The New York Times. 12 December 2015. Archived from the original on 10 January 2017. Retrieved 2 March 2017.
^ Jump up to:a b Hong Kong-based anti-Communist magazines Cheng Ming and The Trend cease publication after 40 years Archived 3 October 2017 at the Wayback Machine, HKFP, 3 Oct 2017
^ "A new play addresses the growing fear for journalists in Hong Kong". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 11 May 2015. Retrieved 4 September 2017.
^ "IFJ: Reporters intimidated, media manipulated during protests". EJ Insight. Archived from the original on 28 January 2015. Retrieved 28 January 2015.
^ Jump up to:a b "Is Hong Kong's media under attack?". BBC News. Archived from the original on 7 April 2019. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
^ "Press freedom in HK under threat: US writers group". EJ Insight. Archived from the original on 25 June 2015. Retrieved 28 January 2015.
^ Jump up to:a b "Press Freedom in Hong Kong Under Threat, Report Says". The New York Times. 17 January 2015. Archived from the original on 29 December 2016. Retrieved 2 March 2017.
^ Jump up to:a b AFP (27 January 2015). Hong Kong media 'manipulated': reportArchived 28 January 2015 at the Wayback Machine. China Post.
^ Jump up to:a b Lam, Jeffie (8 March 2015). "Beijing 'behind new wave of anti-occupy books'". Publishing – South China Morning Post.
^ Jump up to:a b c "Book publisher says it's being targeted by China-linked sellers". EJ Insight. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
^ Ilaria Maria Sala. "Four Hong Kong publishers known for books critical of Chinese regime missing". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 7 December 2016. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
^ Sam Byford (14 December 2015). "Alibaba buys South China Morning Post to 'improve China's image'". The Verge. Archived from the original on 23 April 2017. Retrieved 4 September 2017.
^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 1 October 2003. Retrieved 24 October 2003.
^ HJKja. "HKja[permanent dead link]." Article. Retrieved on 26 April 2007.
^ "Hong Kong Media's Credibility Declines, Survey Says". The Epoch Times. 1 October 2015. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
^ Michael Wong, "Lai in front-page apology for Apple's juicy widower stories"Archived 22 May 2011 at the Wayback Machine, The Standard, 11 November 1998
^ "Hong Kong magazine to be prosecuted in pop star pictures row". The Raw Story. Archived from the original on 10 April 2008. Retrieved 27 March2008.
^ HONG KONG: Twin photograph ruling upheld Archived 12 October 2007 at the Wayback Machine
^ Siu, Beatrice (3 March 2014). "Pressing the point" Archived 5 February 2015 at the Wayback Machine. The Standard.
^ Qi Luo (14 October 2014). "Apple gets taste of own medicine" Archived18 October 2014 at the Wayback Machine. The Standard.
^ "蘋果又被圍紐約時報發行亦受阻" [Apple Daily and The New York Times blocked]. 13 October 2014. Archived from the original on 15 October 2014. Retrieved 13 October 2014.
^ "高院接受蘋果日報臨時禁制令禁阻出入通道" [High Court accepts injunction plea from Apple Daily to ban blocking passageways]. 13 October 2014. Archived from the original on 15 March 2015. Retrieved 13 October2014.
^ Staff Reporter (13 November 2014). "Offal attack on Lai as trio pelt tycoon with pig guts". The Standard. Archived from the original on 13 November 2014. Retrieved 30 November 2014.
^ AFP (12 November 2014). "Rotten offal hits HK media tycoon". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 30 November 2014.
^ Ramzy, Austin. "Firebombs Thrown at Jimmy Lai's Home and Company in Hong Kong". Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 28 January 2015.
^ Cheng, Kevin; Wong, Hilary (16 January 2015). "CY trades barbs with democrats over free speech" Archived 26 June 2015 at the Wayback Machine. The Standard
^ Benitez, Mary Ann; Lau, Kenneth (15 January 2015). 'Fallacies' in HKU magazine blasted. Archived 26 June 2015 at the Wayback Machine The Standard.
^ "Carrie Lam, John Tsang: Undergrad remarks CY Leung's own views". EJ Insight. Archived from the original on 10 February 2015. Retrieved 26 January 2015.
^ "Disappearance of 5 Tied to Publisher Prompts Broader Worries in Hong Kong". The New York Times. 5 January 2016. Archived from the original on 29 January 2017. Retrieved 2 March 2017.
^ Jump up to:a b Ilaria Maria Sala (7 January 2016). "Hong Kong bookshops pull politically sensitive titles after publishers vanish". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 29 January 2017. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
^ "Unanswered questions about the missing booksellers". EJ Insight. 5 January 2016. Archived from the original on 11 January 2016. Retrieved 11 January 2016.
Further reading[edit]
Chan, Yuen-ying (10 January 2003). "The English‐language media in Hong Kong". World Englishes. doi:10.1111/1467-971X.00182.

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Theses on the Black Question - Fourth Congress of the Communist International - Resolutions 1922

Theses on the Black Question - Fourth Congress of the Communist International - Resolutions 1922

Fourth Congress of the Communist International - Resolutions 1922
Theses on the Black Question

Source: Published in Toward the United Front: Proceedings of the Fourth Congress of the Communist International, 1922 (https://www.haymarketbooks.org/books/897-to-the-masses), pp. 947-951.
Translation: Translations by John Riddell
HTML Markup: David Walters & Andy Blunden for the Marxists Internet Archive, 2018
Copyright: John Riddell, 2017. Republished here with permission.



1. During and after the war, a movement of revolt developed among the colonial and semi-colonial peoples against the power of world capitalism, and this movement is successfully making progress. Meanwhile, the further development of capitalism depends on resolving its last great challenge, the penetration and intensive colonisation of the territories inhabited by Black races. French capitalism has clearly recognised that postwar French imperialism can only be maintained by creating a French empire in Africa, tied to the mother country by a Trans-Sahara railroad.

The financial magnates of the United States, who already exploit twelve million Blacks in that country, have begun the peaceful penetration of Africa. Britain’s fear that its position in Africa may be threatened is clearly shown by the extreme measures it took to suppress the strikes in South Africa in the Rand.[1]

Just as the competition between imperialist powers in the Pacific region has produced an acute danger of a new world war, so there are ominous indications that Africa has become the object of their competitive efforts. In addition, the war, the Russian revolution, and the powerful rebellious movements of Asian and Muslim peoples against imperialism have awakened racial consciousness among millions of Blacks, who have been oppressed and humiliated for centuries not only in Africa but also, and perhaps even more, in the United States.

2. The history of Blacks in the United States has prepared them to play an important role in the liberation struggle of the entire African race. Three hundred years ago, the American Blacks were torn from their native soil, transported on slave ships under the most indescribably cruel conditions, and sold into slavery. For 250 years they worked as slaves under the whip of the American overseer. Their labour cleared the forests, built the roads, planted the cotton, laid the railway tracks, and sustained the Southern aristocracy. The reward for their labour was poverty, ignorance, degradation, and misery.

The Blacks were not docile slaves. Their history tells of rebellions, revolts, and underground techniques of winning freedom. But all their struggles were savagely suppressed. They were tortured into submission, while the bourgeois press and bourgeois religion declared their enslavement to be rightful.

Slavery grew into a barrier on the road to America’s development on a capitalist basis. In the contest between chattel slavery and wage slavery, chattel slavery was destined to defeat. The Civil War was a war not to free the slaves but to maintain the industrial supremacy of capitalism in the Northern states. It presented Blacks with the choice between slavery in the South and wage slavery in the North.

The longing, the blood, and the tears of the ‘emancipated’ Blacks formed part of the material from which American capitalism was constructed. When the United States, which had now emerged as a world power, was inevitably pulled into the whirlpool of the World War, Blacks were declared to be of equal worth to whites. They were permitted to kill for ‘democracy’ and let themselves be killed. Four hundred thousand Coloured workers were recruited into the American army and formed into Black regiments. Immediately after the dreadful sacrifices of the world war, the Black soldier, returning home, faced racial persecution, lynching, murder, deprival of the right to vote, and inequality between him and the whites.

Blacks fought back, for which they had to pay dearly. The persecution of Blacks became more intensive and pervasive than before the war, until they had learned to forget their ‘presumption’. The spirit of rebellion aroused by the postwar persecution and brutality, although suppressed, flares up again, as we saw in the protests against atrocities such as those that took place in Tulsa.[2] Combined with the impact of the Blacks’ integration into industry in the North, this assigns to American Blacks, especially in the North, a place in the vanguard of the struggle against oppression in Africa.

3. The Communist International views with satisfaction the resistance of exploited Blacks to the attacks of their exploiters, since the enemy of their race and of the white worker is identical: capitalism and imperialism. The international struggle of the Black race is a struggle against capitalism and imperialism. The international Black movement must be organised on this basis – in the United States, the centre of Black culture and the focus of Black protests; in Africa, the reservoir of human labour for capitalism’s further development; in Central America (Costa Rica, Guatemala, Colombia, Nicaragua, and other ‘independent’ republics), which is dominated by American imperialism; in Puerto Rico, Haiti, Santo Domingo [Dominican Republic], and other islands in the Caribbean, where the brutal treatment of our Black fellow men by American occupation troops has aroused a protest by conscious Blacks and revolutionary white workers around the world; in South Africa and the Congo, where the increasing industrialisation of the Black population has led to uprisings of different types; in East Africa, where the current penetration of international capitalism is driving the native population to active resistance against imperialism.

4. It is the task of the Communist International to show Blacks that they are not the only people that suffer the oppression of imperialism and capitalism. The workers and peasants of Europe, Asia, and America are also victims of the imperialist exploiters. In India and China, in Iran and Turkey, in Egypt and Morocco, the oppressed Coloured peoples are mounting a heroic defence against the imperialist exploiters. These peoples are rising up against the same outrages that drive Blacks to fury: racial oppression, social and economic inequality, and intensive exploitation in industry. These peoples are fighting for the same goals as Blacks – for political, economic, and social liberation and equality.

The Communist International represents the worldwide struggle of revolutionary workers and peasants against the power of imperialism. It is not only the organisation of the subjugated white workers in Europe and America, but is also the organisation of the oppressed Coloured peoples of the world. It feels duty-bound to support and promote the international organisation of Blacks in their struggle against the common enemy.

5. The Black question has become an essential part of the world revolution. The Communist International has already recognised what worthwhile help the Coloured peoples of Asia can provide in the semi-colonial countries. It views the assistance of our oppressed Black fellow human beings as absolutely necessary for proletarian revolution and the destruction of capitalist power. For these reasons, the Fourth Congress assigns to Communists the special responsibility to apply the ‘Theses on the Colonial Question’ to the situation of Blacks.[3]

6. a. The Fourth Congress considers it essential to support every form of the Black movement that either undermines or weakens capitalism or places barriers in the path of its further expansion.

b. The Communist International will struggle for the equality of the white and Black races, and for equal wages and equal political and social rights.

c. The Communist International will utilise all the means available to it to compel the trade unions to take Black workers into their rights, or, where this right already exists in form, to make special efforts to recruit Blacks into the trade unions. If this proves to be impossible, the Communist International will organise Blacks in their own trade unions and make special use of the united front tactic in order to force the general unions to admit them.

d. The Communist International will take immediate steps to convene a general conference or congress of Blacks in Moscow.
Notes

1. Miners and other workers in Transvaal declared a general strike in March 1922 against reductions in wages and living standards, in particular through the replacement of white workers by much lower-paid Blacks. The strike movement developed into a general uprising, which was put down at a cost of 154 lives. Four workers were executed. Despite efforts by the CP to promote racial unity and equality, the white workers’ movement defended the colour bar and a ‘white South Africa’, while some workers engaged in sporadic attacks on Black workers.

2. For eighteen hours during 31 May – 1 June, 1921, a white mob waged war on the Black community of Tulsa, Oklahoma. The attackers destroyed the entire Black district, leaving 300 or more dead and 10,000 Blacks homeless. White-only hospitals admitted 800 wounded; Black hospitals had been burned down.

3. The reference here is probably to the Theses on the National and Colonial Questions adopted by the Second Congress. See Riddell, ed., Workers of the World and Oppressed Peoples, Unite! (New York: Pathfinder Press 1991), vol. 1, pp. 283 – 90. Theses on this topic were also adopted by the Fourth Congress, although not until its final session.



Comintern | Fourth Congress

The Hong Kong protests explained in 100 and 500 words - BBC News

The Hong Kong protests explained in 100 and 500 words - BBC News

The Hong Kong protests explained in 100 and 500 words

A riot police officer pushes journalist away using his baton.Image copyrightGETTY IMAGES
Image captionClashes between police and protesters have grown increasingly violent
Anti-government protests have rocked Hong Kong for months and the situation shows no sign of dying down.
Here's all the background you need to know in 100 or 500 words - you can read each individually or in turn.
The story in 100 words
Hong Kong's protests started in June against plans to allow extradition to mainland China.
Critics feared this could undermine judicial independence and endanger dissidents.
Until 1997, Hong Kong was ruled by Britain as a colony but then returned to China. Under the "one country, two systems" arrangement, it has some autonomy, and its people more rights.
The bill was withdrawn in September but demonstrations continue and now demand full democracy and an inquiry into police actions.
Clashes between police and activists have become increasingly violent, with police firing live bullets and protesters attacking officers and throwing petrol bombs.
The story in 500 words
The extradition bill which triggered the first protest was introduced in April. It would have allowed for criminal suspects to be extradited to mainland China under certain circumstances.
Opponents said this risked exposing Hongkongers to unfair trials and violent treatment. They also argued the bill would give China greater influence over Hong Kong and could be used to target activists and journalists.
Hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets. After weeks of protests, leader Carrie Lam eventually said the bill would be suspended indefinitely.

How did the protests escalate?

Protesters feared the bill could be revived, so demonstrations continued, calling for it to be withdrawn completely.
By then clashes between police and protesters had become more frequent and violent.
In September, the bill was finally withdrawn, but protesters said this was "too little, too late".
On 1 October, while China was celebrating 70 years of Communist Party rule, Hong Kong experienced one of its most "violent and chaotic days".
An 18-year-old was shot in the chest with a live bullet as protesters fought officers with poles, petrol bombs and other projectiles.
The government then banned protesters wearing face masks, and in early November a pro-Beijing lawmaker was stabbed in the street by a man pretending to be a supporter.
One week later, a policeman shot one protester at close range when activists were trying to set up a road block. Later that day another man was set on fire by anti-government protesters.
In November, a standoff between police and students barricaded on the campus of Hong Kong's Polytechnic University became another defining moment.
Later that month, the territory held local council elections that were seen as a barometer of public opinion.
The vote saw a landslide victory for the pro-democracy movement, with 17 of the 18 councils now controlled by pro-democracy councillors.

What do the protesters want?

Some protesters have adopted the motto: "Five demands, not one less!" These are:
  • For the protests not to be characterised as a "riot"
  • Amnesty for arrested protesters
  • An independent inquiry into alleged police brutality
  • Implementation of complete universal suffrage
The fifth demand, the withdrawal of the bill, has already been met.
Protests supporting the Hong Kong movement have spread across the globe, with rallies taking place in the UK, France, US, Canada and Australia.
In many cases, people supporting the demonstrators were confronted by pro-Beijing rallies.
Chinese president Xi Jinping has warned against separatism, saying any attempt to divide China would end in "bodies smashed and bones ground to powder".

What is Hong Kong's status?

Hong Kong is a former British colony handed back to China in 1997.
It has its own judiciary and a separate legal system from mainland China. Those rights include freedom of assembly and freedom of speech.
But those freedoms - the Basic Law - expire in 2047 and it is not clear what Hong Kong's status will then be.

Want to know more?

Read this:
And watch this:

The Truth About Hong Kong | Truth-HK

The Truth About Hong Kong | Truth-HK






Behind
the Protest
The truth of hong Kong

A Special Edition published by the International Police Association(Hong Kong Section) in 2020
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The International Police Association(Hong Kong Section) deserves full credit of their work.
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Please visit their website:
http://www.ipa-hksar.com/
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Thank you for your great work.
The Truth About Hong Kong.
Full PDF document can be downloaded from their website.
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