Hong Kong Economic Journal editor refuses to back down over removal of columnist Joseph Lian
Former and serving staff call for explanation after columnist well known for his criticism of chief executive axed
The management of a Chinese-language newspaper is refusing to budge over a decision to axe a veteran columnist last week.
A group of former and serving staff at the Hong Kong Economic Journal issued an open letter anonymously yesterday, condemning the decision to drop Joseph Lian Yi-zheng’s column, calling it a mission with “unspeakable motive” to “assist those in authority” to silence critics.
Lian was well known for his criticism of the Beijing and Leung Chun-ying governments.
His column was axed after Lian discussed the feasibility of “de jure Hong Kong independence” in his article published on July 25.
In a separate article for online media, Lian also claimed his controversial column might have “reached the fragile bottom line of the authorities”.
In a brief letter to Lian last week, the newspaper’s editor-in-chief, Alice Kwok Yim-ming, told him that his column would be suspended from August 1 because of a restructuring of the newspaper, including its opinion pages.