Hong Kong authorities hit back at claims of ‘continuous attacks’ on press freedom after 24 countries sign statement accusing city of media curbs

The Hong Kong government has hit back at claims by 24 countries that local and mainland Chinese authorities have continuously attacked press freedom in the city, saying the joint statement was an attempt at slander.

In a rebuttal issued on Friday night, city authorities said the statement from the Media Freedom Coalition, which was signed by the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Japan and 20 other countries, had “fact-twisting remarks and baseless smears” against the government’s efforts to safeguard press freedom.

“The law enforcement agencies of the [Hong Kong Special Administrative Region] have been taking law enforcement actions based on evidence and strictly in accordance with the law in respect of the acts of the persons or organisations concerned, which have nothing to do with freedom of the press, or the background of any person or organisation,” a Hong Kong government spokesman said.

“Attempts by any foreign countries to undermine the rule of law in, and the prosperity and stability of, the [Hong Kong Special Administrative Region], by slandering the city’s situation will only expose the [country’s] own weakness and faulty arguments and be doomed to fail.”

The coalition said the 24 countries that signed the statement were deeply concerned about Hong Kong and mainland authorities’ “continued attacks” on press freedom and their suppression of independent local media.