Hong Kong's security agency has issued a stern warning to foreign journalists operating in the city, telling them to "not cross the legal red line" and warning that they will be subject to severe consequences if they continue to cause trouble.
The Office for Safeguarding National Security (OSNS) summoned senior reporters from several international media outlets, including the New York Times and Agence France-Presse, in a meeting that was described as "tense". The officials present did not provide specific examples of coverage that had caused concern, but accused journalists of tainting the government.
In a statement posted online after the meeting, the OSNS claimed that some foreign media outlets had "disregarded facts, spread false information, distorted and smeared the government's disaster relief and aftermath work". The agency has been cracking down on dissenting voices in Hong Kong since the passage of its national security law in 2020, which gave Beijing sweeping powers to curtail free speech.
The warning comes as the city grapples with one of its worst disasters in recent history - a fire that killed at least 159 people and left thousands homeless. The blaze at the eight-tower Wang Fuk Court in northern Hong Kong has sparked widespread outrage over substandard materials used during renovations, which have now been found to be a major contributing factor to the disaster.
Hong Kong's government has long touted its commitment to press freedom and public protest as key features of its "one-country, two-systems" framework. However, those freedoms have been increasingly curtailed in recent years, with the national security law allowing Beijing to crack down on dissenting voices.
The OSNS has now taken its warnings to a new level, telling foreign journalists that they will be subject to severe consequences if they continue to cause trouble. The agency's words are likely to send a chilling message to those who have been critical of the Hong Kong government's handling of the fire disaster.
The Office for Safeguarding National Security (OSNS) summoned senior reporters from several international media outlets, including the New York Times and Agence France-Presse, in a meeting that was described as "tense". The officials present did not provide specific examples of coverage that had caused concern, but accused journalists of tainting the government.
In a statement posted online after the meeting, the OSNS claimed that some foreign media outlets had "disregarded facts, spread false information, distorted and smeared the government's disaster relief and aftermath work". The agency has been cracking down on dissenting voices in Hong Kong since the passage of its national security law in 2020, which gave Beijing sweeping powers to curtail free speech.
The warning comes as the city grapples with one of its worst disasters in recent history - a fire that killed at least 159 people and left thousands homeless. The blaze at the eight-tower Wang Fuk Court in northern Hong Kong has sparked widespread outrage over substandard materials used during renovations, which have now been found to be a major contributing factor to the disaster.
Hong Kong's government has long touted its commitment to press freedom and public protest as key features of its "one-country, two-systems" framework. However, those freedoms have been increasingly curtailed in recent years, with the national security law allowing Beijing to crack down on dissenting voices.
The OSNS has now taken its warnings to a new level, telling foreign journalists that they will be subject to severe consequences if they continue to cause trouble. The agency's words are likely to send a chilling message to those who have been critical of the Hong Kong government's handling of the fire disaster.
I'm really concerned about what's going on in Hong Kong right now. The government's actions seem to be getting more and more restrictive, and it's like they're trying to control every single aspect of public discourse. 
I mean, who gets summoned by the security agency for just doing their job as a journalist? It's not fair, and it's not exactly what you'd expect from a place that claims to value press freedom. 
The fact that they won't even specify what's wrong with the coverage is just another example of how malleable the truth can be when you have so much power over the narrative. 
I think this is a major step back for democracy and free speech in Hong Kong, and it's going to take a toll on people's trust in their government. 
this is getting super concerning... I mean, I get it, gov'ts need to protect themselves and all that, but foreign journos shouldn't be getting threatened like this 
! They're just doing their job, trying to report on what's going down in the city. It's not like they're trying to cause trouble, they just want to shed some light on important issues 
. And now, they're being told to "not cross the legal red line" - sounds like a threat to me 
! The gov't already has so much power over the media and public speech in Hong Kong... this is just another way to silence dissenting voices 
. What's next? Journalists who point out gov't mistakes being arrested? It's really scary 
. How can they just threaten journalists over reporting on real issues like this? The whole thing with the Wang Fuk Court fire is still fresh and people are outraged about the substandard materials used. It doesn't make sense that foreign media outlets would be told not to "taint" the government's image when all we're doing is asking questions. Did they really find something incriminating on our reporting? 
I'd love to see some sources on this...
and what about press freedom? aren't foreign journalists supposed to be able to do their job without fear of retribution? it's like they're setting a precedent for other countries to follow. this is super concerning 
what's next? censorin all social media posts about the fire? 
seriously tho i feel for all those victims & their fams who lost everything in that blaze 
. We can't just sit back and let people be oppressed – we need to stand up for each other.
. I'm all for investigating and holding people in power accountable, but come on, can't we just have a free press around here? It's like they're saying that truth itself is a threat to national security 
. Can't wait to see how this all plays out, but I'm not holding my breath 
Can't believe what's goin' on in Hong Kong, fam 
The OSNS is basically saying that free speech is for everyone except them, and that's not cool at all.
Hong Kong's gov says it's committed to public protest and press freedom, but we all know how that's been going down lately. It's time for some real transparency here, folks! Transparency into the OSNS's actions and motivations, not just empty words.
. I just don't trust these guys anymore 
, and I think this warning will only lead to more self-censorship among journalists 
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and what's crazy is that the government has been touting press freedom as one of its key selling points all along 
I think it's kinda worrying when an org like OSNS starts telling journalists what not to do, you know? Like, they're basically saying that if you report on something and don't get the gov's side, then you'll be in trouble... it doesn't exactly sound like free press to me 
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. If journalists are doing their job and holding those in power accountable, it's only because they care about the truth and want to help people 
. So let's not get too caught up in fear-mongering here 
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