DATE=8/20/1999
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
TITLE=HONG KONG PRESS FREEDOM
NUMBER=5-44100
BYLINE=AMY BICKERS
DATELINE=HONG KONG
INTERNET=YES
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: A war of words between China and Taiwan has
made its way to Hong Kong. As Amy Bickers reports,
Hong Kong journalists are concerned about press
freedom after Beijing warned the territory's media
about promoting calls for Taiwanese independence.
TEXT: Concerns of journalists in Hong Kong were
raised after Vice Premier Qian Qichen (prono: chen
chee-chen) said in Beijing Thursday that reporters in
Hong Kong should not promote calls for separatism in
Taiwan.
Mr. Qian did not mention specific media outlets.
But many here believe he was referring to a recent
interview on Hong Kong's government-run radio station,
in which Taiwan's top representative in Hong Kong
voiced support for Taipei's insistence that it be
treated as an equal state, by China.
Cliff Bale, an executive committee member of the Hong
Kong Journalists Association, says there is a great
deal of confusion about Mr. Qian's comments.
/// BALE ACT ///
The message does seem to be thou shalt not
spread any message about any views relating to
controversial issues about Taiwan. I think
Chinese officials find it hard to draw a line
between pure advocacy and general news
reporting.
/// END ACT ///
Mr. Bale and other journalists say they do not know
whether Mr. Qian meant Hong Kong's media may report on
the debate over the so-called two-China's issue, or
whether it can only report Beijing's views on the
matter.
The topic is a sensitive one in Hong Kong, which
returned to Chinese sovereignty a little more than two
years ago. Among the many freedoms guaranteed to Hong
Kong in its constitution is the right to press
freedom.
Liu Kin-Ming oversees the editorial page at the Hong
Kong newspaper The Apple Daily, which is often sharply
critical of China. He says that no matter what Mr.
Qian intended, his comments violate the rights of Hong
Kong people.
/// LIU ACT ///
I always question this kind of thinking which
says you have to separate advocacy and
reporting. The press has to report on everything
that is happening in the society. We do not care
whether it is taboo or not. For us journalists
we should be able to cover anything that is
being said in the community.
/// End Act ///
Some newspapers in Hong Kong are calling for Mr. Qian
to clarify his remarks. An editorial in Hong Kong's
Economic Times said there are concerns that freedom of
speech in Hong Kong might be shackled. Mr. Liu is
worried that the remarks from Beijing could spark
self-censorship in Hong Kong, where many media
companies have strong business ties to the Chinese
mainland.
/// LIU ACT ///
I am afraid there is a chilling effect. Mr. Qian
has already said you should not advocate certain
views. If they do not like these views being
expressed, it is very, very possible they do not
like newspapers to cover these views. There is a
danger that self-censorship will increase even
more. Newspapers and the media might try to
avoid these kinds of issues.
/// End Act ///
A snap poll by one Hong Kong newspaper found that 46-
percent of those surveyed believe the comments could
undermine freedom of speech in the territory.
This is not the first time that Beijing's actions
have raised concerns about the rights of Hong Kong
people. Earlier this year, Beijing overturned a
controversial ruling by Hong Kong's highest court.
While that stirred worries about the autonomy of Hong
Kong's legal system and the current dispute centers on
the freedom of speech, both issues reflect the
difficulties for free-wheeling Hong Kong as it tries
to reintegrate with China.
NEB/AB/FC/KL
20-Aug-1999 08:11 AM EDT (20-Aug-1999 1211 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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