A free press is an indispensable part of Hong Kong, says chief executive

Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying has pledged to uphold press freedom, saying it is the government’s “constitutional responsibility” and an indispensable element that makes Hong Kong an international city.

Leung was delivering a speech on Monday at the presentation ceremony of the Newspaper Society of Hong Kong’s annual news awards.

It was the first time he had officiated at the event since becoming chief executive in 2012. Previously, Chief Secretary Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor was the officiating guest. There were rumours that Leung had avoided showing up because he was unhappy that news stories on the illegal structure at his home won awards in 2012.

This year the South China Morning Post bagged six prizes, with Elaine Yau and Mark Sharp winning the first prize in the Best English News Writing category, Debasish Roy Chowdhury netting first prize in Best Business News Writing, and K. Y. Cheng the first prize in Sports Photographic.

Other Post winners were Hong Kong desk reporters Phila Siu and Chris Lau, photographer Dickson Lee, and graphics director Alberto Lucas Lopez.

In his address, Leung said: “We safeguard a free press not only because it is the government’s constitutional responsibility, not only because it is Hong Kong society’s core value.