Hong Kong Plunges Below Singapore in World Press Freedom Ranking
(Bloomberg) -- Hong Kong's press freedom ranking has plummeted amid a crackdown on free speech by authorities.
The Asian financial center ranked 148 in the Reporters Without Borders 2022 World Press Freedom Index, representing a fall of 68 places from last year. Twenty years ago the city sat in 18th place.
Elsewhere on the list, China sat in 175th position, Singapore ranked 139th -- up from 160 last year -- and India stood in 150th place. Norway, Denmark and Sweden took the top three spots, while the U.K. rose to 24 from 33 last year, and the U.S. edged up take 42nd place.
Hong Kong's fall in the ranking came after police raids, the seizure of assets and the subsequent closure of two major independent news organizations -- Apple Daily and Stand News -- in 2021. Thirteen journalists were in prison at the time of the report, according to Reporters Without Borders.
The former British colony's fall in press freedom reflects a widening clampdown on free speech in the city, following the Beijing-imposed introduction of a national security law in 2020, enacted to quell anti-government protests.
Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam rejected claims that the city's press freedom had deteriorated. “Our media organizations are as vibrant as ever,” Lam told a regular news briefing Tuesday, adding that journalists and media organizations weren't above the law, including legislation regarding national security.
Reporters Without Borders compiled the ranking of 180 countries and territories with a new methodology this year, taking five indicators into account: political context, legal framework, economic context, sociocultural context and security.
While the report described Hong Kong's media landscape as having a “vibrant media environment with hundreds of publications and over 15 TV stations,” it went on to say: “Since the 1997 handover to China, most media have fallen under the control of the government or pro-China groups.”
It added: “The Hong Kong government takes orders directly from Beijing and openly supports its attempts to impose censorship and spread propaganda.”
More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
©2022 Bloomberg L.P.
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