On Feb. 14, 2023, the United Nations Committee on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights convened in Geneva, Switzerland to review a report sent by Beijing that gave an account of Hong Kong and Macau. British non-governmental organization Hong Kong Watch submitted their own report and urged the UN Committee to closely observe the impact of the National Security Law on Hong Kong’s cultural rights and trade union rights.
The report stated that almost all independent and pro-democracy media outlets have been forced to close down after the implementation of the Hong Kong National Security Law, with 18 journalists arrested and 12 journalists and senior media executives still awaiting trial in prison. Hong Kong is no longer a haven for press freedom and media professionals, with many Hong Kong journalists leaving due to potential threats and alarming risks. The departed reporters organized journalists’ unions overseas instead, leading to the dissolution of multiple trade unions in the past two years.
The report cited the results of the member survey released by the Hong Kong Foreign Correspondents’ Club (FCC) in November 2021. It reported that 84 percent of the interviewed journalists expressed that press freedom has deteriorated in Hong Kong under the National Security Law. About 76 percent were “apprehensive” about the possible establishment of fake news law, and 77 percent of journalists feared being monitored by digital or physical surveillance. At least 46 percent of surveyed journalists said they considered leaving Hong Kong, while 34 percent were considering fleeing. Another 12 percent had already planned for their permanent departure from Hong Kong.
The report also mentioned Articles 9 and 10 of the Hong Kong National Security Law, which target the media. Article 9 stipulates that the Hong Kong government shall strengthen public promotion, guidance, supervision, and management of schools, social organizations, media, and networks related to national security. Article 10 calls for the implementation of national security education through schools, social organizations, media, and networks. Additionally, Hong Kong Watch pointed out that the definition of Article 54 is conceivably targeting foreign media. Article 54 mentions strengthening the management and services of foreign and overseas non-governmental organizations and news agencies in Hong Kong.
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