HONG KONG – Media freedom in Hong Kong is at a crossroads as a court prepares to deliver a verdict in the case of two former editors of Stand News, a now-shuttered news outlet. This case is being closely watched as a gauge of the state of press freedom in the city once known for its vibrant media landscape.
Former editor-in-chief Chung Pui-kuen and former acting editor-in-chief Patrick Lam were arrested in December 2021 on charges of conspiracy to publish and reproduce seditious publications. Their sedition trial marked the first time media was involved in such a case since Hong Kong’s return to Chinese rule in 1997.
Stand News was one of the few outlets in Hong Kong openly critical of the government during a period of crackdown on dissent following the 2019 pro-democracy protests. Its closure came shortly after the high-profile shutdown of Apple Daily, another pro-democracy newspaper.
Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
