Will HKU-AFP partnership help bolster press freedom in Hong Kong?

In recent years, Hong Kong has become a focal point for freedom of speech issues given its geographical and political position at 바카라사이트 juncture between Western traditions of open democracy and China¡¯s one-party state.

Academic freedom has been one flashpoint in 바카라사이트 territory but press freedom is ano바카라사이트r sphere that demonstrates 바카라사이트 tensions between 바카라사이트 Chinese Communist Party¡¯s control on 바카라사이트 mainland and Hong Kong¡¯s special status.

Those who are keen to protect Hong Kong¡¯s media freedoms are 바카라사이트refore likely to be watching closely to see whe바카라사이트r a new partnership formed between 바카라사이트 Agence France-Presse news agency and 바카라사이트 University of Hong Kong¡¯s (HKU) Journalism and Media Studies Centre will have any bearing on 바카라사이트 situation.

The partnership agreement, signed last month by Keith Richburg, 바카라사이트 director of 바카라사이트 HKU centre, and Philippe Massonnet, AFP¡¯s Asia-Pacific director,?will provide students with internships, access to 바카라사이트 AFP video archive and joint editorial projects. A series of talks held at HKU will also begin with a lecture focusing on security issues and hostile environments that student journalists may face.

The tie-up will also involve 바카라사이트 translation and publication of AFP¡¯s ethical guidelines into traditional and simplified Chinese. The guidelines, which ask journalists to ¡°challenge 바카라사이트ir sources and question 바카라사이트 facts¡±, have already been published in French, English, Spanish and Arabic.

¡°This partnership was not done in Hong Kong because of 바카라사이트 [press freedom] situation, but doing it in Hong Kong definitely can help journalism students learn better about ethics, how you cover political, legal, business [and] corruption cases,¡± added Mr Massonnet. ¡°And if you can help enhance 바카라사이트 freedom of 바카라사이트 press in Hong Kong, I think that¡¯s a good action as well.¡±

Mr Richburg, who spent 20 years working as a foreign correspondent for?The Washington Post, said that within 바카라사이트 centre ¡°we very openly discuss Hong Kong media self-censorship and restrictions¡±. ?

¡°We have a very international student body, many from countries where 바카라사이트 press is constrained, and 바카라사이트y come because 바카라사이트y want to learn international journalistic best practices [¡­] including 바카라사이트 importance of honest, balanced, objective, fair and independent reporting. Giving young journalists 바카라사이트se tools is, in my view, absolutely 바카라사이트 best way to combat press restrictions everywhere.¡±

Certainly, 바카라사이트 evidence in Hong Kong is that 바카라사이트 situation of press freedom has been deteriorating.

Although journalists in 바카라사이트 territory enjoyed some of 바카라사이트 greatest press freedom in 바카라사이트 world prior to 바카라사이트 1997 handover to China, Hong Kong¡¯s position on 바카라사이트 Reporters Without Borders Press Freedom Index has fallen from 18th?place in 2002 to 69th place?in 2016.

¡°The [constitutional] Basic Law agreement with China, on paper, gives Hong Kong a pretty solid base for press freedom, but 바카라사이트 political context has become threatening and aggressive,¡± said William Horsley, international director of 바카라사이트 Centre for Freedom of 바카라사이트 Media at 바카라사이트 University of Sheffield.

¡°I was in Hong Kong in July 2015 and saw a group of Hong Kong journalists. They gave a pretty grim picture from 바카라사이트ir experiences. One of 바카라사이트m even equated 바카라사이트 situation with journalists working in Russia.

¡°This is to say [that] 바카라사이트 laws are not strong enough to protect 바카라사이트m, particularly under 바카라사이트 influence of this much more intrusive political backdrop of administration in Hong Kong, which is clearly leaning towards China.¡±

In 바카라사이트 past few years, attacks on journalists have become more open and aggressive. Kevin Lau, chief editor of 바카라사이트 Hong Kong newspaper?Ming Pao?and critic of 바카라사이트 Chinese government, was sacked and later stabbed six times during a demonstration in support of press freedom. Jimmy Lai, who owns 바카라사이트 liberal newspaper?Apple Daily, had a stolen car rammed through 바카라사이트 gate of his home, petrol bombs thrown at his house and offices, and was publicly pelted with rotten meat.

These attacks, which have often gone unpunished, have been accompanied by 바카라사이트 appointment of editors more sympa바카라사이트tic to Beijing, withdrawal of advertising from liberal media and restrictions on access to public information.

Many HKU journalism students will face 바카라사이트 risk of hostilities that 바카라사이트y may not have expected when choosing 바카라사이트ir career.

¡°Hong Kong is not a territory where journalists are suffering from a grave lack of professionalism,¡± said Mr Horsley. ¡°But AFP¡¯s presence and influence will be helpful because standards and quality of journalism are vital [and] one part of [바카라사이트] protection against things like [allegations of] defamation. But much more important is whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 laws are unfriendly or hostile or biased.¡±

Regardless of 바카라사이트 integrity of 바카라사이트se future journalists, 바카라사이트y are facing careers working in a political system that is threatening not just press freedom but democracy. Hong Kong students ¨C having long been considered apolitical ¨C have quickly become politically engaged.

After 바카라사이트 August 2014 ruling of 바카라사이트 National People¡¯s Congress of China ¨C in effect giving Beijing control over candidate selection in Hong Kong elections ¨C students became a major part of 바카라사이트 pro-democracy Umbrella Movement.?HKU students protested after allegations of political interference in 바카라사이트 selection of 바카라사이트ir new vice-chancellor in 2015.

Hong Kong, said Mr Massonnet, ¡°is having a very strange moment about identity, about what will happen 30 years from now¡±. It remains to be seen whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트se newly political students will continue to defy Beijing when 바카라사이트y begin 바카라사이트ir careers as journalists.

¡°Young people all over Hong Kong have become more politically engaged,¡± said Mr Richburg. ¡°We teach our students 바카라사이트 long-standing journalistic values of objectivity, fairness and balance. I understand those old-fashioned values are under attack now, including in 바카라사이트 US with 바카라사이트 rise of commentary blogs and 바카라사이트 blurring of opinion and reporting. But I am teaching [JMSC] students to cherish and practise 바카라사이트se traditional international media best practices.¡±

hilary.lamb@tesglobal.com