Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam downplays concerns over diminishing press freedom following suspension of human rights media awards
- Chief Executive Carrie Lam attributes public’s concerns to misunderstandings on the extent press freedom is covered by constitutional safeguards
- Foreign Correspondents’ Club has put its annual Human Rights Press Awards on hold while an outspoken commentator recently left city worried about crossing ‘moving red lines’
Hong Kong’s leader has dismissed fresh concerns over diminishing press freedom in the city following the suspension of annual human rights media awards by a journalists’ group, labelling it and the departure of an outspoken political commentator as “isolated incidents”.
Lam was asked by the Post at her weekly briefing to comment on the state of press freedom following the FCC’s move and the recent departure of Chung Kim-wah, an outspoken political scientist frequently featured in the media.
She said while they might give the impression press freedom had been undermined, it stemmed from people misconstruing the law.
“I would say that the two examples you have given are isolated incidents, which might have given people that impression, especially people who tend to misunderstand constitutional safeguards for press freedom, that is, one will have to observe the law in exercising your freedom,” she said.
She did not elaborate on whether the FCC would breach any laws if it pressed on with the awards ceremony. Nor did she comment further on the club’s decision, saying it was a private organisation.
Without naming Chung directly, she said he had the right as a Hong Kong resident to travel in and out of the city.