Hong Kong’s Article 23 law: New York Times, BBC slammed for ‘extremely misleading’ articles on legislation

New York Times essay says new law criminalises ‘vague behaviour’ such as possession of information ‘directly or indirectly useful to an external force’

Government spokesman condemns the BBC’s Chinese-language website for coverage on denial of early release for inmate

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A New York Times opinion piece on Tuesday lamented the perceived disquiet in the city following the enactment of the domestic national security legislation. Photo: AP

Published: 4:06pm, 27 Mar 2024Updated: 9:12pm, 27 Mar 2024

Hong Kong has accused The New York Times and BBC of running “extremely misleading” articles on the domestic national security legislation, with the city’s “rebuttal mission” rolling on days after the new law came into force.

Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung on Wednesday slammed a New York Times opinion piece titled “Hong Kongers are purging the evidence of their lost freedom”, penned by acting China director for Human Rights Watch Maya Wang.

The essay was published in the US newspaper on Tuesday.

“We strongly disapprove of and condemn the extremely misleading opinion piece,” Tang wrote in a letter sent to the paper’s editors. “It is necessary to set the record straight.”

The final edition of Apple Daily. The tabloid’s founder Jimmy Lai is on trial over charges of conspiracy to print and distribute seditious publications. SCMP: Felix Wong

The piece opened with a question on whether keeping old copies of the now-defunct tabloid Apple Daily ran the risk of being caught possessing seditious publications, a long-existing offence that was brought into the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance with more serious penalties.