#ForeignCorrespondentsClub #FCC #ImmigrationDepartment #VISA #NationalSecurity
Hong Kong's Immigration Department Suspected of Delaying and Denying Foreign Correspondents' Visas
Source: Stand News #Aug12
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Hong Kong's Immigration Department Suspected of Delaying and Denying Foreign Correspondents' Visas
Source: Stand News #Aug12
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#NationalSecurityLaw #Visa #ForeignMedia #PressFreedom
Hong Kong's Immigration Department Suspected of Delaying and Denying Foreign Correspondents' Visas
The Foreign Correspondents' Club (#FCC) released a statement on 6 August 2020, indicating that multiple foreign correspondents in Hong Kong were having their visa renewal applications delayed.
Sources close to the Immigration Department revealed to Stand News that visa applications for foreign correspondents have to be double-checked by the "National Security Section" which had only been established in late June, 2020.
No public announcement has been made concerning the "National Security Section". The special section is currently under the jurisdiction of a Chief Immigration Officer who belongs to the "Quality Migrants and Mainland Residents Section" (#QMMR).
Sources said that the QMMR's office is located on the 6/F of the Immigration Headquarters, but that the officer working for the "National Security Section" does not work at that office. The Immigration Department Organisation Chart also had no mention of such an officer.
Sources also claimed that the Immigration Department had used technical reasons to hinder foreign correspondents' visa applications. For example, for a correspondent who had applied for a visa in 2018 with the status of an editor, were he/she found to have reported on the recent protests, the Immigration Department could delay or deny the application, citing the reason that their title reported and their current job are not consistent.
When processing the application, the Immigration Department also checked the correspondents' MPF (Mandatory Pension Fund) and wage records. Source said, "This wasn't necessary before. The guide on the [government's] website didn't state that it was necessary." However, the Immigration Department claimed that the check was to ensure that said media worker was really conducting regular work in Hong Kong. If it was found that the person was not paid for a few months, the authorities could claim that "the person does not no need to work in Hong Kong. Anyway, they are just making up excuses."
Source: Stand News #Aug12
#ImmigrationDepartment #FailedState
Hong Kong's Immigration Department Suspected of Delaying and Denying Foreign Correspondents' Visas
The Foreign Correspondents' Club (#FCC) released a statement on 6 August 2020, indicating that multiple foreign correspondents in Hong Kong were having their visa renewal applications delayed.
Sources close to the Immigration Department revealed to Stand News that visa applications for foreign correspondents have to be double-checked by the "National Security Section" which had only been established in late June, 2020.
No public announcement has been made concerning the "National Security Section". The special section is currently under the jurisdiction of a Chief Immigration Officer who belongs to the "Quality Migrants and Mainland Residents Section" (#QMMR).
Sources said that the QMMR's office is located on the 6/F of the Immigration Headquarters, but that the officer working for the "National Security Section" does not work at that office. The Immigration Department Organisation Chart also had no mention of such an officer.
Sources also claimed that the Immigration Department had used technical reasons to hinder foreign correspondents' visa applications. For example, for a correspondent who had applied for a visa in 2018 with the status of an editor, were he/she found to have reported on the recent protests, the Immigration Department could delay or deny the application, citing the reason that their title reported and their current job are not consistent.
When processing the application, the Immigration Department also checked the correspondents' MPF (Mandatory Pension Fund) and wage records. Source said, "This wasn't necessary before. The guide on the [government's] website didn't state that it was necessary." However, the Immigration Department claimed that the check was to ensure that said media worker was really conducting regular work in Hong Kong. If it was found that the person was not paid for a few months, the authorities could claim that "the person does not no need to work in Hong Kong. Anyway, they are just making up excuses."
Source: Stand News #Aug12
#ImmigrationDepartment #FailedState
#FreedomofPress #WhiteTerror
Keith Richburg: "If we start self-censoring, they have won"
Keith Richburg, director of the Journalism and Media Studies Centre at #HKU and former chairperson for the Foreign Correspondents Club (#FCC) accepted an interview with Stand News, stating that the police force's recent actions have been attempts to demonstrate to the world how it cracks down on cases related to the National Security Law, in order to shock and intimidate the press industry into #SelfCensorship.
Richburg said in the interview that he hopes that journalists will not self-censor while reporting, stating that journalists should continue to "overstep authority" until stopped.
"Unless interviewing Joshua Wong or Nathan Law constitutes a crime, I see no reason to stop reporting them. Journalists must be gutsy. The most dangerous thing a journalist could do is to self-censor themselves."
Many online media have been receiving police interference while reporting on-site over the past year. A good example can be seen when police officers demand for journalists to show their HKJA press card.
Current commissioner of police, Chris Tang, stated in a recent interview that the force will be implementing new measures to allow only "trustworthy media" into the police cordon.
Richburg was shocked by this measure, and it caused him to recall an event that occurred when he first came to Hong Kong. A staff from the Information Services Department contacted him and two other American journalists, and met them lunch. When he asked how he should go about in applying for a press card, the staff replied that Hong Kong does not have a licensing regime for journalists, stating that "We have press freedom. If you are press, you are press."
Richburg stated that Hong Kong has never had a licensing regime for journalists, and that the government and the police should not decide on each press' "trustworthiness". He stated that Hong Kong needs media that monitors the government, stating that "This is surprising, as Hong Kong is a place with a tradition of democracy. It should not be decided by officials like this."
Yet as the implementation of the National Security Law enters its 50th day, Richburg believes that Hong Kong has already become unrecognisable.
Richburg believes that the government is investigating the possibility of a licensing regime for journalists to control journalists and limit press freedom. He stated that although different places such as New York City had established a licensing regime for journalists, allowing press with licenses increased privileges and the right to report within police cordons, the Hong Kong government is trying to use the regime as a tool to restrict press reporting.
Richburg stated that, "If we start self-censoring, they have won," because the public would then #SelfCensor out of fear, as the police sees no need to continue enforcing the law."
Source: Stand News #Aug10
#Professionalism #Journalism #KeithRichburg #Interview
Keith Richburg: "If we start self-censoring, they have won"
Keith Richburg, director of the Journalism and Media Studies Centre at #HKU and former chairperson for the Foreign Correspondents Club (#FCC) accepted an interview with Stand News, stating that the police force's recent actions have been attempts to demonstrate to the world how it cracks down on cases related to the National Security Law, in order to shock and intimidate the press industry into #SelfCensorship.
Richburg said in the interview that he hopes that journalists will not self-censor while reporting, stating that journalists should continue to "overstep authority" until stopped.
"Unless interviewing Joshua Wong or Nathan Law constitutes a crime, I see no reason to stop reporting them. Journalists must be gutsy. The most dangerous thing a journalist could do is to self-censor themselves."
Many online media have been receiving police interference while reporting on-site over the past year. A good example can be seen when police officers demand for journalists to show their HKJA press card.
Current commissioner of police, Chris Tang, stated in a recent interview that the force will be implementing new measures to allow only "trustworthy media" into the police cordon.
Richburg was shocked by this measure, and it caused him to recall an event that occurred when he first came to Hong Kong. A staff from the Information Services Department contacted him and two other American journalists, and met them lunch. When he asked how he should go about in applying for a press card, the staff replied that Hong Kong does not have a licensing regime for journalists, stating that "We have press freedom. If you are press, you are press."
Richburg stated that Hong Kong has never had a licensing regime for journalists, and that the government and the police should not decide on each press' "trustworthiness". He stated that Hong Kong needs media that monitors the government, stating that "This is surprising, as Hong Kong is a place with a tradition of democracy. It should not be decided by officials like this."
Yet as the implementation of the National Security Law enters its 50th day, Richburg believes that Hong Kong has already become unrecognisable.
Richburg believes that the government is investigating the possibility of a licensing regime for journalists to control journalists and limit press freedom. He stated that although different places such as New York City had established a licensing regime for journalists, allowing press with licenses increased privileges and the right to report within police cordons, the Hong Kong government is trying to use the regime as a tool to restrict press reporting.
Richburg stated that, "If we start self-censoring, they have won," because the public would then #SelfCensor out of fear, as the police sees no need to continue enforcing the law."
Source: Stand News #Aug10
#Professionalism #Journalism #KeithRichburg #Interview
The US Regulates Broadcaster to Declare Foreign-Sponsored Programs to Increase Transparency and to Prevent Chinese or Russian Propaganda
Federal Communications Commission (FCC), accounting for regulating broadcasting, has a unanimous vote on Thursday (22 April) that television and radio broadcasting must declare the programs sponsored or provided by a foreign government.
Acting Chairman of FCC, Jessical Rosenworcel, stated that FCC recently received countless reports relating to foreign government-sponsored programs. She indicated that FCC knew that foreign entities purchase broadcast time slots across the country. She especially pointed Chinese and Russian out for their government-sponsored programs.
The original policy does not state when and how a foreign government-sponsored program being publicly reported. Under FCC new-passed regulation, if foreign government entities directly or indirectly purchase time slots through television or radio station, they must state during the broadcasting.
FCC stated in the statement, āThis regulation will increase the transparency to make sure audience understand foreign government or its representativeās organisations are using atmospheric waves to persuade Americanā.
Source: Stand News #Apr24
https://bit.ly/3xsak8Z
#UnitedStates #US #China #Russia #FCC #Radio #Television #Transparency #Propaganda #Broadcasting
Federal Communications Commission (FCC), accounting for regulating broadcasting, has a unanimous vote on Thursday (22 April) that television and radio broadcasting must declare the programs sponsored or provided by a foreign government.
Acting Chairman of FCC, Jessical Rosenworcel, stated that FCC recently received countless reports relating to foreign government-sponsored programs. She indicated that FCC knew that foreign entities purchase broadcast time slots across the country. She especially pointed Chinese and Russian out for their government-sponsored programs.
The original policy does not state when and how a foreign government-sponsored program being publicly reported. Under FCC new-passed regulation, if foreign government entities directly or indirectly purchase time slots through television or radio station, they must state during the broadcasting.
FCC stated in the statement, āThis regulation will increase the transparency to make sure audience understand foreign government or its representativeās organisations are using atmospheric waves to persuade Americanā.
Source: Stand News #Apr24
https://bit.ly/3xsak8Z
#UnitedStates #US #China #Russia #FCC #Radio #Television #Transparency #Propaganda #Broadcasting
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#PressFreedom
Nearly half of journalists considering leaving Hong Kong, citing decline in press freedom : FCC survey
#FCC #NationalSecurityLaw #NSL #FreedomOfSpeech
Sources: FCC, HKFP, RTHK; #Nov5
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Nearly half of journalists considering leaving Hong Kong, citing decline in press freedom : FCC survey
#FCC #NationalSecurityLaw #NSL #FreedomOfSpeech
Sources: FCC, HKFP, RTHK; #Nov5
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Nearly half of journalists considering leaving Hong Kong, citing decline in press freedom : FCC survey
Working conditions have markedly worsened for journalists in Hong Kong since Beijing imposed national security law for the city in June 2020, an anonymous survey conducted by the Hong Kong Foreign Correspondentsā Club (#FCC) has found.
The survey results released on November 5 showed 46% of respondents were considering or had plans to leave the city citing the decline in press freedom, while 56% admitted to self-censoring or avoiding reporting on sensitive topics to at least some degree.
70 correspondents and 29 journalist members had responded to the survey. More than 80 of them said the general working environment for journalists in Hong Kong had deteriorated since the introduction of the national security law. 86% saying sources were not willing to speak or be quoted on issues deemed to be sensitive.
Sources: FCC, HKFP, RTHK; #Nov5
Read full survey result
https://www.fcchk.org/membership-survey-on-press-freedom/
Working conditions have markedly worsened for journalists in Hong Kong since Beijing imposed national security law for the city in June 2020, an anonymous survey conducted by the Hong Kong Foreign Correspondentsā Club (#FCC) has found.
The survey results released on November 5 showed 46% of respondents were considering or had plans to leave the city citing the decline in press freedom, while 56% admitted to self-censoring or avoiding reporting on sensitive topics to at least some degree.
70 correspondents and 29 journalist members had responded to the survey. More than 80 of them said the general working environment for journalists in Hong Kong had deteriorated since the introduction of the national security law. 86% saying sources were not willing to speak or be quoted on issues deemed to be sensitive.
Sources: FCC, HKFP, RTHK; #Nov5
Read full survey result
https://www.fcchk.org/membership-survey-on-press-freedom/
The Foreign Correspondents' Club, Hong Kong | FCC
The Foreign Correspondentsā Club, Hong Kong, Membership Survey on Press Freedom
In an effort to gauge the confidence of our members in the media environment in Hong Kong since the introduction of the National Security Law, the Foreign Correspondentsā Club (FCC) has conducted a...
[Interview in UK] Steve Vines: I have never seen a situation worse than this. I dare not think about ānot able to return to Hong Kong foreverā
Translated by Guardians of Hong Kong ā September 10, 2021 ā¢ 3 November 2021
Before leaving Hong Kong, a place he lived for thirty-four years, unlike many others, Steve VINES did not revisit places of great significance to him. Doing so would just make him even sadder.
āIf I did that, I would be so depressed I wouldnāt be able to function,ā he said.
He has a friend who also left Hong Kong but spent two weeks traveling around the city capturing memories.
"It surprised me how he could do this."
Read the fully translated interview here:
https://telegra.ph/Interview-in-UK-Steve-Vines-I-have-never-seen-a-situation-worse-than-this-I-dare-not-think-about-not-able-to-return-to-Hong-Kong-11-02
Inteviewer: Mok Mok
Source: The Stand News #Aug13
#FreedomOfPress #fcc #SteveVines
Translated by Guardians of Hong Kong ā September 10, 2021 ā¢ 3 November 2021
Before leaving Hong Kong, a place he lived for thirty-four years, unlike many others, Steve VINES did not revisit places of great significance to him. Doing so would just make him even sadder.
āIf I did that, I would be so depressed I wouldnāt be able to function,ā he said.
He has a friend who also left Hong Kong but spent two weeks traveling around the city capturing memories.
"It surprised me how he could do this."
Read the fully translated interview here:
https://telegra.ph/Interview-in-UK-Steve-Vines-I-have-never-seen-a-situation-worse-than-this-I-dare-not-think-about-not-able-to-return-to-Hong-Kong-11-02
Inteviewer: Mok Mok
Source: The Stand News #Aug13
#FreedomOfPress #fcc #SteveVines
#HumanRights #WhiteTerror
Hong Kongās Human Rights Press Awards cancelled, citing legal risks
Hong Kongās Foreign Correspondentsā Club (#FCC) has cancelled this yearās Human Rights Press Awards, citing āsignificant areas of uncertaintyā under the law.
In a statement emailed to members on Monday, club president Keith Richburg said the FCC board met on Saturday and āafter a lengthy discussion, regretfully decided to suspend the Human Rights Press Awards pending further review.ā
The winners of the Human Rights Press Awards were expected to be announced on May 3, which is also World Press Freedom Day.
āOver the last two years, journalists in Hong Kong have been operating under new āred linesā on what is and is not permissible, but there remain significant areas of uncertainty and we do not wish unintentionally to violate the law,ā Richburg wrote. āThis is the context in which we decided to suspend the Awards.ā
āI know this is an unusual step to take so late in the process, just weeks before we were set to announce the winners,ā he added.
According to FCC's website, āThe Human Rights Press Awards recognise top rights-related reporting from around Asia, with the goal of increasing respect for peopleās basic rights and focusing attention on threats to those freedoms.ā
Since the onset of Hong Kongās national security law in 2020, two of the cityās newsrooms have been raided and their top editors arrested, as press freedom NGOs have sounded the alarm. #AppleDaily, #StandNews and #CitizenNews are among the outlets that have shuttered.
Full article:
https://hongkongfp.com/2022/04/25/breaking-hong-kongs-human-rights-press-awards-cancelled/
Source: Hong Kong Free Press
#PressFreedom #HumanRights #WhiteTerror
Hong Kongās Human Rights Press Awards cancelled, citing legal risks
Hong Kongās Foreign Correspondentsā Club (#FCC) has cancelled this yearās Human Rights Press Awards, citing āsignificant areas of uncertaintyā under the law.
In a statement emailed to members on Monday, club president Keith Richburg said the FCC board met on Saturday and āafter a lengthy discussion, regretfully decided to suspend the Human Rights Press Awards pending further review.ā
The winners of the Human Rights Press Awards were expected to be announced on May 3, which is also World Press Freedom Day.
āOver the last two years, journalists in Hong Kong have been operating under new āred linesā on what is and is not permissible, but there remain significant areas of uncertainty and we do not wish unintentionally to violate the law,ā Richburg wrote. āThis is the context in which we decided to suspend the Awards.ā
āI know this is an unusual step to take so late in the process, just weeks before we were set to announce the winners,ā he added.
According to FCC's website, āThe Human Rights Press Awards recognise top rights-related reporting from around Asia, with the goal of increasing respect for peopleās basic rights and focusing attention on threats to those freedoms.ā
Since the onset of Hong Kongās national security law in 2020, two of the cityās newsrooms have been raided and their top editors arrested, as press freedom NGOs have sounded the alarm. #AppleDaily, #StandNews and #CitizenNews are among the outlets that have shuttered.
Full article:
https://hongkongfp.com/2022/04/25/breaking-hong-kongs-human-rights-press-awards-cancelled/
Source: Hong Kong Free Press
#PressFreedom #HumanRights #WhiteTerror
Hong Kong Free Press HKFP
Hong Kongās Human Rights Press Awards cancelled, citing legal risks
Hong Kongās Foreign Correspondentsā Club (FCC) has cancelled this yearās Human Rights Press Awards, citing āsignificant areas of uncertaintyā under the law. Human Righā¦
#PressFreedom #Award #FCC #HKJournalistsAssociation
Hong Kong journalists win Foreign Correspondentsā Club of Japan press freedom prize
While the Foreign Correspondentsā Club (#FCC) in Hong Kong scrapped its annual human rights press awards just days before it was due to announce winners, claiming fear over the cityās wide-ranging national security law, the Foreign Correspondentsā Club of Japan offered Freedom of the Press Asia Award to all Hong Kong journalists.
Freelance journalist Ilgin Yorulmaz, co-chair of the clubās press freedom committee, said that the award recognised journalists and media organisations who fight for free speech, the free exchange of information, and fight against censorship.
Upon receiving the award, Ronson Chan, Associate Chairman of Hong Kong Journalists Association, said "although the environment changed, most of us have remained in our position and try our best to find the truth for the Hong Kong community.ā
Source: Inmediahk, #Apr25
https://bit.ly/3Mn4lsK
Hong Kong journalists win Foreign Correspondentsā Club of Japan press freedom prize
While the Foreign Correspondentsā Club (#FCC) in Hong Kong scrapped its annual human rights press awards just days before it was due to announce winners, claiming fear over the cityās wide-ranging national security law, the Foreign Correspondentsā Club of Japan offered Freedom of the Press Asia Award to all Hong Kong journalists.
Freelance journalist Ilgin Yorulmaz, co-chair of the clubās press freedom committee, said that the award recognised journalists and media organisations who fight for free speech, the free exchange of information, and fight against censorship.
Upon receiving the award, Ronson Chan, Associate Chairman of Hong Kong Journalists Association, said "although the environment changed, most of us have remained in our position and try our best to find the truth for the Hong Kong community.ā
Source: Inmediahk, #Apr25
https://bit.ly/3Mn4lsK
Hong Kongās axed Human Rights Press Awards to be hosted by #ArizonaStateUniversity from 2023
Arizona State Universityās (ASU) journalism school will host the Human Rights Press Awards from next year, after Hong Kongās Foreign Correspondentsā Club (#FCC) axed the event citing legal āred lines.ā
Last week, the FCC scrapped this yearās awards after the defunct local outlet Stand News won nine accolades. Two former Stand News employees are facing sedition charges after the outlet was raided and its editors arrested last December [2021].
The press clubās move prompted a board member to step down and eight members of the clubās press freedom committee to resign. HKFP later obtained and published the full list of winners.
āRecognising exceptional reporting on human-rights issues is more important today than ever before, due to the many ā and growing ā threats to press freedom around the world. The Cronkite School is honoured to take on the administration of the Awards and we hope to expand their global reach as part of our #CronkiteGlobal initiative,ā said Battinto L. Batts, Jr., dean of the Cronkite School in a press release.
Jeffrey Timmermans, who directs the schoolās Donald W. Reynolds National Center for Business Journalism, will be the head judge. Timmermans, a former governor of the FCC in Hong Kong, told HKFP he believed that āall past winners of the Human Rights Press Awards should be recognised,ā when asked about this yearās awardees. However, he said āthere has been no decision yet.ā//
Source: Hong Kong Free Press #May3
https://hongkongfp.com/2022/05/03/breaking-hong-kongs-axed-human-rights-press-awards-to-be-hosted-by-arizona-state-university-from-2023/
#PressFreedom #HumanRightsPressAward
Arizona State Universityās (ASU) journalism school will host the Human Rights Press Awards from next year, after Hong Kongās Foreign Correspondentsā Club (#FCC) axed the event citing legal āred lines.ā
Last week, the FCC scrapped this yearās awards after the defunct local outlet Stand News won nine accolades. Two former Stand News employees are facing sedition charges after the outlet was raided and its editors arrested last December [2021].
The press clubās move prompted a board member to step down and eight members of the clubās press freedom committee to resign. HKFP later obtained and published the full list of winners.
āRecognising exceptional reporting on human-rights issues is more important today than ever before, due to the many ā and growing ā threats to press freedom around the world. The Cronkite School is honoured to take on the administration of the Awards and we hope to expand their global reach as part of our #CronkiteGlobal initiative,ā said Battinto L. Batts, Jr., dean of the Cronkite School in a press release.
Jeffrey Timmermans, who directs the schoolās Donald W. Reynolds National Center for Business Journalism, will be the head judge. Timmermans, a former governor of the FCC in Hong Kong, told HKFP he believed that āall past winners of the Human Rights Press Awards should be recognised,ā when asked about this yearās awardees. However, he said āthere has been no decision yet.ā//
Source: Hong Kong Free Press #May3
https://hongkongfp.com/2022/05/03/breaking-hong-kongs-axed-human-rights-press-awards-to-be-hosted-by-arizona-state-university-from-2023/
#PressFreedom #HumanRightsPressAward
Hong Kong Free Press HKFP
Hong Kongās axed Human Rights Press Awards to be hosted by Arizona State University from 2023
Arizona State Universityās (ASU) journalism school will host the Human Rights Press Awards from next year, after Hong Kongās Foreign Correspondentsā Club (FCC) axed the event citing legal āred lines.ā ASUās Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communicationā¦
#PressFreedom #Censorship
Why the days of Hong Kongās Foreign Correspondentsā Club may be numbered
//I fear the days of the FCC itself are numbered. ...//
// The end could happen suddenly, given the news on Monday [Ed. April 25] that the club had cancelled its annual Human Rights Press Awards because of the āred linesā China has drawn on what is permissible to be published and the clubās fear the awards could inadvertently cross into dangerous territory for the club, its members, and participants in the awards. //
Read full article
https://hongkongfp.com/2022/05/01/why-the-days-of-hong-kongs-foreign-correspondents-club-may-be-numbered/
#FCC #RedLine #HumanRights #WhiteTerror
Why the days of Hong Kongās Foreign Correspondentsā Club may be numbered
//I fear the days of the FCC itself are numbered. ...//
// The end could happen suddenly, given the news on Monday [Ed. April 25] that the club had cancelled its annual Human Rights Press Awards because of the āred linesā China has drawn on what is permissible to be published and the clubās fear the awards could inadvertently cross into dangerous territory for the club, its members, and participants in the awards. //
Read full article
https://hongkongfp.com/2022/05/01/why-the-days-of-hong-kongs-foreign-correspondents-club-may-be-numbered/
#FCC #RedLine #HumanRights #WhiteTerror