NGO Reporters Without Borders defends Press Freedom Index rankings after state-backed media criticism
State-backed newspaper Ta Kung Pao has blasted Reporters Without Borders (RSF), calling the NGO 'a political thug' and its press freedom rankings 'a political smear tool.'
In a Chinese op-ed published on Saturday, the newspaper claimed that RSF did not represent 'the true media industry.'
'RSF has long become a political thug, and the World Press Freedom Index has degenerated into a political smear tool in recent years,' it wrote. 'Its smear of the press freedom situation in Hong Kong has reached unimaginable levels.'
RSF published its latest press freedom rankings on Friday, one day before World Press Freedom Day. The list saw Hong Kong tumble five places, entering the 'red zone' – meaning a 'very serious' situation – for the first time.
The city now sits at 140th place, sandwiched between Sri Lanka and Kazakhstan. Meanwhile, China fell six spots to 178th place.
In response to the op-ed, RSF told HKFP on Tuesday that its index exists 'to compare the level of freedom enjoyed by journalists and media in 180 countries and territories. It is an independent tool, based on the transparent methodology that is available publicly on the RSF website.'
The newspaper went on to state that press freedom has its limits, and that reporters do not have the freedom to spread 'fake news' and 'separatist ideas.'
However, RSF said that its survey respondents emphasised a decline in press freedom and an uptick in harassment: 'Since 2020, at least 28 journalists and press freedom defenders have been prosecuted under various pretexts, 10 of whom remain in detention. Dozens of independent media outlets who used to provide the public with reliable, factual and sourced information have been closed down due to the pressure.'
'Red zone' ranking
In last week's index, Hong Kong saw sharp dips in all five of the watchdog's indicators: political context, legal framework, economic context, socio-cultural context, and safety.
The free expression NGO said: 'The main factor behind this decline is the deterioration of the political indicator (-7.28 pts), notably due to the September 2024 conviction for 'sedition' of Chung Pui-kuen and Patrick Lam.'
RSF was referring to two former editors of Stand News, who were found guilty last September of conspiring to publish and reproduce seditious publications
'Politically extreme'
In the op-ed, Ta Kung Pao said RSF was using the closure of some media outlets, as well as some 'so-called' journalists leaving Hong Kong, to smear the press freedom situation.
'But they never said why these media outlets closed, [or] why some 'so-called' journalists left for overseas,' the op-ed read, adding that the 'reason' was that some outlets had breached Hong Kong's national security laws.
Ta Kung Pao also singled out the watchdog's Asia-Pacific Bureau Advocacy Manager Aleksandra Bielakowska, saying she had openly stated her political stance by appealing for people to read and subscribe to some independent outlets that are 'surviving under pressure.'
The paper also questioned RSF's funding.
In response, RSF told HKFP that its management is transparent, ethical, independent, and 'no political tendency, economic interest or religious belief guides the action of RSF.'
'RSF financing is based, in a balanced manner, on the generosity of the public and our members (donations, memberships, legacies, donations, French and international public subsidies, private sponsorships, RSF albums sale). Each year our accounts are certified by an independent auditor and published in the French Journal Officiel.'
Press freedom in Hong Kong has been under the spotlight since the Beijing-imposed national security law came into effect in 2020. Alongside the shuttering of dozens of civil society groups, two of Hong Kong's biggest independent media outlets – Apple Daily and Stand News – also saw their offices raided and their top staff arrested.
Apple Daily's founder Jimmy Lai, who has been remanded since December 2020, was charged with two counts of conspiring to collude with foreign forces under the Beijing-imposed national security law, and a third count of conspiring to publish seditious materials under colonial-era legislation.
His trial, which had gone on for 145 days, was adjourned in March for the defense and prosecution to prepare closing arguments in July. A verdict is expected in October.
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