Hong Kong Press Freedom Rating Falls to Record Low

Hong Kong's press freedom has plummeted to a record low of 25 out of 100 according to the latest annual Press Freedom Index published by the Hong Kong Journalists Association. The index, based on surveys of over 250 journalists and approximately 1,000 members of the public, indicates that journalists are increasingly fearful of the repercussions of the national security law, particularly the newly enacted Article 23. Over 90% of journalists reported that press freedom is significantly impacted by this law, which punishes crimes such as espionage and foreign interference. Concerns were further heightened by the prosecution of media tycoon Jimmy Lai and the disappearance of South China Morning Post reporter Minnie Chan in Beijing. The public's perception of press freedom remained relatively stable at 42.2, highlighting a disparity between public and media sentiment. The ongoing decline in press freedom is attributed to increased self-censorship and the chilling effect of stringent laws on media operations.