More assaults on press freedom on the second anniversary of the Yuen Long attacks that the press have done much to make sure we know the truth about and won't forget

So many sad days and anniversaries in Hong Kong

 

Today is the two year anniversary of a series of attacks that took place in Yuen Long, particularly its main MTR station, which shocked Hong Kong -- not only for their ferocity but for the police not acting appropriately to help the victims.  Adding to public indignation about what happened on the night of  July 21st, 2019, is the authorities having sought to whitewash these attacks by men in white shirts wielding long sticks and canes (like pro-Beijinger Arthur Shek had urged attendees at a pro-police rally a few days previously to buy and use on those of their opponents who needed to be "disciplined") and even outright rewrite history. 

 

But, thanks in large part to the sterling reportage of various members of the press, including Bao Choy (formerly of RTHK) and teams at Citizen News and Stand News (whose latest 7.21 video report -- released just a few days ago and providing further damning details as to what and who were behind the Yuen Long attacks -- has been given English subtitles by Real Hong Kong News), we will not be lied to.  As journalism professor Yuen Chan has been moved to muse on Twitter, "imagine what they would say if the press hadn't been there" in Yuen Long on July 21st.  

 

As it was, then Stand News reporter Gwyneth Ho was attacked while she livestreamed what was happening at Yuen Long MTR station -- with the sense that justice has most certainly not prevailed in Hong Kong being strengthened by her currently behind bars thanks to being one of the people who had taken part in the democratic primaries back in July 2020 who now have been accused of subversion under China's security law for Hong Kong.  

 

And the attacks on members of the press have continued today -- with the security law arrest this morning of former Apple Daily executive editor, Lam Man-chung, "on suspicion of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces" and the revoking of the bail of Chan Pui-man and Fung Wai-kong, two other former Apple Daily senior executives, this afternoon.  (So yes, even the demise of their newspaper has not prevented the authorities from wanting to prosecute and persecute them.)

Adding to today's slew of bad news and worries is Home Affairs Secretary Caspar Tsui telling the Legislative Council this afternoon that the Hong Kong government is mulling plans to implement a “fake news” law to regulate disinformation on the internet.  To Hong Kong Journalist’s Association chair Ronson Chan, such a piece of legislation would saddle journalists with one additional and unnecessary concern -- and, as we have seen, it's not like there wasn't already a distinct sense that press freedom in Hong Kong is under attack.  

 

Among other things, yesterday saw new rules laid down for public broadcaster Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) that involve staffers being banned from using “inappropriate” terms such as “Taiwan’s president” or “Taiwan government” in all radio, television and online output, to comply with the one-China principle.  As the blogger over at The Fragrant Harbour summed things up: RTHK is becoming Mainlandized.  

 

As such, it probably just a matter of time before Taiwan gets referred to as a "renegade province" in RTHK's reports the way that it's a matter of course at Mainland Chinese "news" outlets; this even though it should be obvious to pretty much anyone who's not been brainwashed by Beijing -- or is happy to kowtow to it for financial gain  -- that Taiwan is a country (even while the "Republic of Yuen Long" -- where it can sometimes seem like regular Hong Kong rules do not apply -- is not!).