Press Freedom HK Lawfare WEB
Metadata
- Press Freedom HK Lawfare WEB
- November 3, 2022
- In Hong Kong, Media Trials Chill Press Freedom
- Content Type Package
- Language English
- Transcript/Script English USAGM SHARE ((PLAYBOOK SLUG: Press Freedom HK Lawfare HEADLINE: In Hong Kong, Media Trials Chill Press Freedom TEASER: National security trial of Apple Daily founder Jimmy Lai sends troubling message, media and legal analysts say PUBLISHED AT: 11/3/2022 at 10:10am BYLINE: LAUREL BOWMAN CONTRIBUTOR: DATELINE: WASHINGTON VIDEOGRAPHER: SAQIB ISLAM PRODUCER: Graphic: Ted Benson SCRIPT EDITORS: JJ, MPage VIDEO SOURCE (S): Wires AFP and Reuters, Skype for some interviews PLATFORMS: WEB __ TV _x_ RADIO __ TRT: 3: 09 VID APPROVED BY: mia TYPE: TVPKG UPDATE: FOR VOA Press Freedom.)) ((TV/ WEB INTRO)) [[On trial in Hong Kong, media mogul Jimmy Lai’s many legal cases come amid a steep decline for press freedom in the city, analysts say. VOA’s Laurel Bowman has the story.]] ((NARRATOR)) From factory floor to billionaire media mogul, Jimmy Lai is a well-known figure in Hong Kong. But after a national security law was enacted in 2020, the Apple Daily newspaper founder went from a life of luxury to a prison cell. In December, Lai will go on trial accused of colluding with foreign forces. He is already in prison after convictions of unlawful assembly and fraud. The piling up of cases is seen by his international legal team as a form of “lawfare” aimed at discrediting Lai. ((For radio, human rights lawyer Caoilfhionn [[pronounced Keelin]] Gallagher)) ((Caoilfhionn Gallagher, Human Rights Lawyer)) ((English/Female)) “What happens is the authorities, instead of just using libel laws or counterterrorism laws, which they have used for many years to try to silence journalists, they are now using a range of other laws too.” ((NARRATOR)) Media and legal analysts believe Hong Kong is targeting the pro-democracy publisher to send a message. ((For radio: Keith Richburg is president of Hong Kong’s Foreign Correspondents Club)) ((cg SKYPE)) ((Keith Richburg, Foreign Correspondents Club)) ((Male/English)) “And so with these national security cases, it puts everybody on notice that if this could happen to somebody as prominent and as wealthy as Jimmy Lai, it can happen to anybody.” ((NARRATOR)) Hong Kong police told VOA they cannot comment on ongoing legal proceedings. The city chief executive John Lee did not respond to a request for comment. While security secretary in 2021, Lee said the Apple Daily case is “not about … journalist(s) work.” With the national security law in play, and Lai and other independent media figures detained or under summons, Hong Kong has dropped in press freedom rankings. Media outlets are starting to close. Lai’s pro-democracy outlet Apple Daily was first. With executives detained and assets frozen, the iconic newspaper published its final edition in June of 2021. Popular media outlets, Stand News and Citizen News followed suit just six months later, the latter citing security concerns for staff. Two former Stand News editors went on trial Monday, accused of publishing seditious content. ((NARRATOR)) Media freedom does still exist, says Richburg, with major international news outlets still working in the city. But the changing environment is making some journalists nervous. ((For radio: Again, Keith Richburg)) ((cg Skype)) ((Keith Richburg, Foreign Correspondents Club)) ((Male/English)) “Journalists have to figure out a new way of navigating what I call this new normal. You can still operate here … you have to be a lot more careful … a lot of sources don’t want to talk to [the] media, particularly foreign media now, and journalists never know when they are going to be accused of inadvertently going over one of these kind of vague red lines.” ((NARRATOR)) For 74-year-old Lai, a conviction in next month’s national security case could result in a lengthy prison term. ((For radio, human rights lawyer Gallagher)) ((Caoilfhionn Gallagher, Human Rights Lawyer)) ((English/Female)) “He now faces the rest of his life behind bars simply for doing his job, simply for being a journalist, and a media owner and for standing up and speaking truth to power.” ((NARRATOR)) Hong Kong’s persecution of Lai and others is condemned by the U.S. State Department. It has warned that authorities are using the law to “to silence dissenting views, and to stifle freedom of speech." ((Laurel Bowman, VOA News, Washington))
- Transcript/Script USAGM SHARE ((PLAYBOOK SLUG: Press Freedom HK Lawfare HEADLINE: In Hong Kong, Media Trials Chill Press Freedom TEASER: National security trial of Apple Daily founder Jimmy Lai sends troubling message, media and legal analysts say PUBLISHED AT: 11/3/2022 at 10:10am BYLINE: LAUREL BOWMAN CONTRIBUTOR: DATELINE: WASHINGTON VIDEOGRAPHER: SAQIB ISLAM PRODUCER: Graphic: Ted Benson SCRIPT EDITORS: JJ, MPage VIDEO SOURCE (S): Wires AFP and Reuters, Skype for some interviews PLATFORMS: WEB __ TV _x_ RADIO __ TRT: 3: 09 VID APPROVED BY: mia TYPE: TVPKG UPDATE: FOR VOA Press Freedom.)) ((TV/ WEB INTRO)) [[On trial in Hong Kong, media mogul Jimmy Lai’s many legal cases come amid a steep decline for press freedom in the city, analysts say. VOA’s Laurel Bowman has the story.]] ((NARRATOR)) From factory floor to billionaire media mogul, Jimmy Lai is a well-known figure in Hong Kong. But after a national security law was enacted in 2020, the Apple Daily newspaper founder went from a life of luxury to a prison cell. In December, Lai will go on trial accused of colluding with foreign forces. He is already in prison after convictions of unlawful assembly and fraud. The piling up of cases is seen by his international legal team as a form of “lawfare” aimed at discrediting Lai. ((For radio, human rights lawyer Caoilfhionn [[pronounced Keelin]] Gallagher)) ((Caoilfhionn Gallagher, Human Rights Lawyer)) ((English/Female)) “What happens is the authorities, instead of just using libel laws or counterterrorism laws, which they have used for many years to try to silence journalists, they are now using a range of other laws too.” ((NARRATOR)) Media and legal analysts believe Hong Kong is targeting the pro-democracy publisher to send a message. ((For radio: Keith Richburg is president of Hong Kong’s Foreign Correspondents Club)) ((cg SKYPE)) ((Keith Richburg, Foreign Correspondents Club)) ((Male/English)) “And so with these national security cases, it puts everybody on notice that if this could happen to somebody as prominent and as wealthy as Jimmy Lai, it can happen to anybody.” ((NARRATOR)) Hong Kong police told VOA they cannot comment on ongoing legal proceedings. The city chief executive John Lee did not respond to a request for comment. While security secretary in 2021, Lee said the Apple Daily case is “not about … journalist(s) work.” With the national security law in play, and Lai and other independent media figures detained or under summons, Hong Kong has dropped in press freedom rankings. Media outlets are starting to close. Lai’s pro-democracy outlet Apple Daily was first. With executives detained and assets frozen, the iconic newspaper published its final edition in June of 2021. Popular media outlets, Stand News and Citizen News followed suit just six months later, the latter citing security concerns for staff. Two former Stand News editors went on trial Monday, accused of publishing seditious content. ((NARRATOR)) Media freedom does still exist, says Richburg, with major international news outlets still working in the city. But the changing environment is making some journalists nervous. ((For radio: Again, Keith Richburg)) ((cg Skype)) ((Keith Richburg, Foreign Correspondents Club)) ((Male/English)) “Journalists have to figure out a new way of navigating what I call this new normal. You can still operate here … you have to be a lot more careful … a lot of sources don’t want to talk to [the] media, particularly foreign media now, and journalists never know when they are going to be accused of inadvertently going over one of these kind of vague red lines.” ((NARRATOR)) For 74-year-old Lai, a conviction in next month’s national security case could result in a lengthy prison term. ((For radio, human rights lawyer Gallagher)) ((Caoilfhionn Gallagher, Human Rights Lawyer)) ((English/Female)) “He now faces the rest of his life behind bars simply for doing his job, simply for being a journalist, and a media owner and for standing up and speaking truth to power.” ((NARRATOR)) Hong Kong’s persecution of Lai and others is condemned by the U.S. State Department. It has warned that authorities are using the law to “to silence dissenting views, and to stifle freedom of speech." ((Laurel Bowman, VOA News, Washington))
- NewsML Media Topics Arts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
- Network VOA
- Embargo Date November 3, 2022 10:42 EDT
- Byline Laurel Bowman
- Brand / Language Service Voice of America