A Guide to the Press of Hong Kong: Media in a New Era

Welcome to your guide to the newspapers of Hong Kong, a city whose media landscape has been fundamentally and irrevocably transformed. Once a bastion of press freedom in Asia with a vibrant, outspoken, and diverse press, Hong Kong’s media environment has been reshaped by the implementation of the National Security Law (NSL) in 2020. The law has led to the closure of major independent, pro-democracy newspapers and a climate of pervasive self-censorship, leaving a landscape now dominated by pro-establishment and state-controlled voices.

The English-Language Press

The English-language press remains a key source of information for the international and business communities in Hong Kong.

• ***South China Morning Post (SCMP)***: As Hong Kong’s most prominent English-language newspaper of record, the SCMP has a long history of quality journalism. Now owned by Chinese tech giant Alibaba, it continues to provide comprehensive coverage of local and international news but operates cautiously within the new political “red lines.”
• The Standard: A free daily English-language newspaper, The Standard primarily focuses on business and local news and generally holds a pro-establishment stance.
• ***Hong Kong Free Press (HKFP)***: A crucial, independent, and non-profit digital news source, HKFP is one of the last remaining English-language outlets dedicated to providing critical coverage and reporting on human rights and press freedom issues.

The Chinese-Language Press: A Polarized Spectrum

The Chinese-language press, which serves the majority of the population, is now clearly divided.

The Pro-Establishment and State-Controlled Camp:

• Ta Kung Pao and Wen Wei Po: These are not just pro-establishment; they are state-owned newspapers directly controlled by the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in Hong Kong, serving as official mouthpieces for Beijing.
• Oriental Daily News and Sing Tao Daily: These are mass-circulation, privately-owned newspapers that have adopted a firm pro-establishment editorial stance.

The Last Centrist Voice:

• Ming Pao: Widely regarded as the most credible and respected Chinese-language newspaper, Ming Pao strives to maintain a more neutral, centrist, and intellectual position. It is essential reading for those seeking a more balanced perspective, though it too operates under the pressures of the current environment.

In Memoriam: The Pro-Democracy Press

It is impossible to discuss Hong Kong’s media without acknowledging the publications that have been forced to close. Apple Daily, a hugely popular pro-democracy tabloid, and Stand News, a leading online news outlet, were both shut down following police raids and the arrest of their journalists and executives under the NSL. Their closure marked the end of an era for press freedom in the city.

A New Reality for Journalism

The media environment in Hong Kong today is one of the most challenging in the world. The National Security Law has created an atmosphere of fear, leading to widespread self-censorship among journalists and editors. Hong Kong’s once-enviable ranking in global press freedom indexes has plummeted, and journalists risk arrest and prosecution for reporting that is deemed to endanger national security.

Navigating the news from Hong Kong requires a deep understanding of this new reality. Explore our collection on w3worldnewspapers.com to access the remaining voices from this global city.