International Media Pressuring Journalists
A variety of international media organizations are pressuring their journalists to stay away from the Hong Kong Journalists Association, according to a report from China Media Project.
In July, journalist Selina Cheng (鄭嘉如) was fired by The Wall Street Journal, just weeks after becoming chair of the Hong Kong Journalists Association (HKJA), but the China Media Project report says the trend goes further than this. It says three members of the HKJA board, plus the outgoing leader of the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of China, have informed it that major media outlets such as the BBC, CNN and Bloomberg, are telling employees to “stand back and stay quiet, or face the repercussions.”
Hong Kongers in Britain Struggling to Find Good Jobs
Hong Kongers who have moved to Britain using the British Nationals (Overseas) visa are still struggling to find jobs which match their qualifications, according to a new report from British Futures. A 2023 survey found 20 percent of respondents were working for an agency, compared to 5 percent in the population as a whole, and the new survey focused on those having the greatest difficulties, such as those in part time or temporary work.
As well as problems such as a lack of institutional awareness of their visa type, the report found more novel problems. Hong Kongers are finding the application process for jobs in the U.K. hard to navigate, having been used to using one CV to apply for all jobs, for example. Another issue was that AI software did not recognise their accent well in recorded interviews.
These issues are compounded by the fact that Hong Kongers — like many other immigrants — have no recourse to public funds, which means they have no access to benefits. They are also not able to access their Hong Kong pensions.
U.K. Parliamentarians’ Letter to HSBC
Thirteen U.K. parliamentarians have signed a letter to HSBC asking how its restructuring will affect access to state pension funds. HSBC’s restructuring plans include creating “clear lines of responsibility” between Hong Kong and U.K. banking. The letter points out that Hong Kongers in the U.K. have not been able to access up to £3 billion ($3.86 billion) in pension savings held in Hong Kong.
President-Elect Trump Promise to Free Jimmy Lai
Shortly before his election victory in the U.S., president-elect Donald Trump pledged that he would “100 percent” get Jimmy Lai (黎智英) free and out of Hong Kong. Speaking on the Hugh Hewitt podcast, he said it would be “easy” to get him out.
Lai is the founder of pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily. He has been in prison since December 2020 and faces a trial for conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and conspiracy to publish seditious publications. His lawyers say he has been mistreated in custody.
U.K. Foreign Secretary Raises Hong Kong Situation
In talks with Chinese Foreign Secretary Wang Yi (王毅) last month, British Foreign Secretary David Lammy brought up human rights issues in relation to the detention of Jimmy Lai, who is a British national, according to a statement from the Foreign Office.
Ahead of the visit, British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said securing the release of Jimmy Lai (黎智英) from prison in Hong Kong is a “priority” for his government.
Social Worker Ordered to Pay Police Officer
A social worker has been ordered to pay a compensation package of HK$440,000 (around $57,000) to a police officer injured in a 2019 pro-democracy protest.
Survey Finds Over 34 Percent Want to Leave
A survey from the Hong Kong Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies found that 34.1 percent of respondents would like to leave Hong Kong if they had the opportunity to do so. Of that group, 26.6 percent said they have actively prepared to leave. Top reasons given were the “dismal economic situation/overcast economic future” (23.8 percent), the “undemocratic political system” (14.9 percent), “excessive political disputes/unstable politics” (14.1 percent), and “poor living environment/congested living space” (12.5 percent).
Activist Barred From Calling Foreign Witnesses
Chow Hang-tung (鄒幸彤), a barrister and activist who helped organize the Hong Kong’s annual Tiananmen Square vigils, was stopped from calling overseas witnesses to give evidence in her trial for inciting subversion of state power at the end of October. The power to block the witness came through the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, introduced this year and also known as Article 23 legislation.
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