Hong Kong’s Citizen News closes, amid fears of workers’ safety | Freedom of the Press News
Independent online sites closed Tuesday, citing fears of co-workers and a growing number of journalists.
The Hong Kong Citizen News online newsletter closes on Tuesday after five years, in the face of alleged worsening Chinese-controlled territory and concerns about the safety of its employees.
The announcement, made on Sunday on television, comes less than a week from nearly 200 police officers. entered the office of Stand News, another independent publication, accuses its editors of treason.
The Citizen newspaper said it reached its decision with a “heavy heart”, noting that the case was set up in 2017 by former journalists who volunteered to help the public and the “great welfare of the people” and their reports.
“We have not forgotten our original goal,” reporters said in a statement. “It is unfortunate that we can no longer make an effort to change our beliefs without fear due to the changing sea conditions over the past two years and the deterioration of TV culture.”
Beijing pledged to respect Hong Kong’s independence and life, inclusive free media, for at least 50 years when the territory was restored to Chinese rule in 1997.
But democracy activists and civil rights groups say freedom has been violated, especially since Beijing enacted the law. National Security Law in the region in June 2020 for the 2019 democratic demonstrations.
We have announced in earnest that CitizenNews will cease to operate from Jan 4 (Tuesday).
To our subscribers and readers, thank you very much for your support. We will always enjoy this wonderful journey in the last five years. pic.twitter.com/32nSlQFAZR– CitizenNews (@hkcnews_com) January 2, 2022
as a former professor of journalism in hong kong, it has been heartbreaking to see the last few of the opposition and independent organizations closed down in just a few days. stand news. citizen issues.
– Lokman tsui (@lokmantsui) January 2, 2022
The closure of Citizen News comes just days after a standoff in Stand News when senior editors were charged with tampering with disruptive media and refusing bail.
Last year, the most popular Apple Daily was forced closure when national security strikes its offices. Jimmy Lai, its founder and one of Hong Kong’s most prominent figures in democracy, is in jail on a number of charges. Other editors are also to blame.
Hong Kong officials deny allegations that they are breaking the law and deny following journalists.
Security legislation blames what Beijing sees as “secession”, “disruption”, “terrorism”, and “foreign interference in city affairs”.
Since its inception in June last year, more than 100 Democrats have been detained under the law, with many more fleeing into exile.
