Latest news with #HongKongJournalistsAssociation
HKFP
14-06-2025
- Politics
- HKFP
Freelance journalist Selina Cheng re-elected chair of Hong Kong's embattled Journalists Association
The Hong Kong Journalists Association (HKJA) voted in a new Executive Committee on Saturday, with freelance journalist Selina Cheng re-elected as chair unopposed. Cheng was elected at the association's Annual General Meeting in Jordan, having secured 89 votes, with no member voting against or abstaining. The new 2025-26 Executive Committee consists of four members. According to the committee's annual report to members, over the past year, the union has supported members facing tax audits, conducted a press freedom survey, held fundraisers, social events and workshops and launched an investigation into the harassment of journalists. The Court of Appeal also ruled in the union's favour in a case involving a satirical show axed by government-funded broadcaster RTHK. As of June 13, the association had 323 members in total, compared to 338 a year ago. It gained 57 new members since 2024, whilst 87 memberships expired, according to its report to members. Embattled association The city's largest press union has met with increasing pressure from authorities over recent years. During the protests and unrest in 2019, pro-Beijing figures accused it of smearing the police, allowing 'fake journalists' to join, and protecting protesters – accusations it denied. Last year, security chief Chris In February, Tang claimed the HKJA was 'unrepresentative.' Cheng has overseen another tumultuous year for the embattled 57-year-old union. Last month, it emerged that Hong Kong's independent news sector, including companies, staff and family members, were facing simultaneous tax audits and backdated demands, according to the HKJA which has also been facing an audit. The situation reflected a worsening press freedom environment, they said, whilst the government said cases were handled without bias. In February, the HKJA said its venue booking for their annual fundraising gala was cancelled by Eaton HK hotel, with no reason given. It came after the Regal Hongkong Hotel in Causeway Bay axed the union's venue booking, citing 'water leakage causing unstable power supply.' The union went on to enjoy its ' best fundraising results ' in years, with the event going ahead online. Cheng herself appeared in court in February, accusing her ex-employer, The Wall Street Journal, of breaching the city's laws protecting employees' right to join union activities by firing her after she first took on the union's leadership role in 2024. Press freedom Hong Kong has plummeted in international press freedom indices since the onset of the 2020 and 2024 security laws. Watchdogs cite the arrest and jailing of journalists, raids on newsrooms and the closure of around 10 media outlets including Apple Daily, Stand News and Citizen News. Over 1,000 journalists have lost their jobs, whilst many have emigrated. Meanwhile, the city's government-funded broadcaster RTHK has adopted new editorial guidelines, purged its archives and axed news and satirical shows. In 2022, Chief Executive John Lee said press freedom was 'in the pocket' of Hongkongers but 'nobody is above the law.' Although he has told the press to ' tell a good Hong Kong story,' government departments have been reluctant to respond to story pitches.
Epoch Times
28-05-2025
- Business
- Epoch Times
Journalist Group Criticizes Hong Kong's Tax Investigation Into Media Outlets
The Hong Kong Journalists Association (HKJA) said that the association and many Hong Kong media groups, journalists, and their relatives have recently been investigated by the Hong Kong government for taxes paid many years ago. At least eight organizations and 20 individuals were affected. On May 21, the chairperson of HKJA, Selina Cheng Ka-yu, held a press conference, criticizing the Hong Kong government for accusing journalists of owing taxes without providing a reason and demanding considerable advance payments. She described it as a way to punish journalists without trial and that it hurts press freedom. A total of eight media platforms and organizations were audited by tge tax department, including the HKJA, Hong Kong Inmedia, The Witness, Hong Kong Free Press, BoomheadHK, and ReNews, affecting at least 20 people, among them the founders, journalists, and even their then-unmarried spouses. Cheng and her parents were also examined for payroll tax, profits tax, and rates. Cheng described the current assessment approach by the tax bureau as 'bizarre.' She said that all the cases involved were for the 2017–18 or 2018–19 years, for which they had already filed tax returns and paid the full amount. Among these cases, some were not operating, had no business registration, or did not have a physical company, but the tax bureau assigned a 'business registration number of convenience,' which was later found by HKJA not to belong to any organization or person. She said there were also cases where the profit tax for the year mentioned was before the company was even established, and one person was accused by the tax bureau of having income several times more than his salary that year. Cheng and HKJA Investigated Cheng said that she served as a reporter for the investigative team of Hong Kong 01 in 2018 and 2019, with an annual income of about HK$230,000 ($29,500). However, the tax bureau recently claimed that her 'real income' that year was HK$630,000 ($81,000), but did not provide any details. She said that the HKJA had been subject to tax audit since 2023 and has been required to pay HK$450,000 ($58,000) in taxes. After a partial deferral, it still needs to pay HK$300,000 ($38,500). In a face-to-face meeting with the tax bureau, she said officials pointed out the errors in those numbers. At the end of 2024, HKJA again submitted their return, but received no response from the tax bureau, and the group was audited again in March this year. Related Stories 12/25/2024 8/29/2024 She questioned why the tax bureau did not bring charges based on evidence, which amounts to actually 'punishing the journalist without trial, she said.' She stressed that if the tax bureau believes that someone is evading or owing taxes, it should provide proper evidence. She believes that the situation is putting considerable pressure and burden on journalists and small media organizations in terms of time, finances, and mental stress. The HKJA is concerned that the media is increasingly being censored and fenced in by commercial and financial laws, which have a negative impact on press freedom in Hong Kong. Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee met with reporters on May 27, stating that all taxpayers must accurately file tax returns and pay taxes on time, and 'no one has the privilege to evade taxes.' Commissioner of Inland Revenue Benjamin Chan addressed the issue on May 24, stating that any taxpayer, whether a company or an individual, may be subject to a tax review or audit by the department, 'Some taxpayers have raised questions about whether the Inland Revenue Department would audit for tax returns based on specific industries or background. I want to reiterate that we did not and would definitely not do that,' he said. 'As I've mentioned, based on our system, we ensure consistency in treatment for all taxpayers. Every taxpayer has the chance to be invited for a tax review or audit.' Since the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) forced the implementation of the Hong Kong National Security Law, press freedom in Hong Kong has deteriorated. Many journalists have been arrested on charges of violating the NSL and other crimes. Senior executives of Apple Daily and Stand News have been impriso ned. Reporters Without Borders recently released the 2025 World Press Freedom Index, in which Hong Kong is ranked 140th with a score of 39.86 out of 100, its lowest score on record. It was the first time that Hong Kong was listed in the worst 'very serious' category, alongside mainland China.
HKFP
22-05-2025
- Business
- HKFP
Tax audits of Hong Kong independent news outlets are ‘intimidation tactics,' int'l media watchdogs say
Hong Kong authorities' tax audits of independent news outlets are 'intimidation tactics,' two international media watchdogs have said, after a press association revealed that independent media outlets were accused of underpaying tax. The Hong Kong Journalists Association (HKJA) said on Wednesday that six media outlets – InMedia,The Witness, ReNews, Boomhead, HKFP, and one that did not wish to be named – have been subjected to the Inland Revenue Department (IRD)'s inspections starting in late 2023. Besides the outlets, the heads, directors and shareholders of the outlets, and two of their spouses, also saw their taxes audited. The Hong Kong Journalists Association itself has also faced a probe. In January, it said the IRD demanded HK$400,000 from the group after reviewing its 2017-2018 accounts. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) on Wednesday condemned the 'intimidation tactic to dissuade independent journalists from reporting.' Aleksandra Bielakowska, advocacy manager of the RSF, said on Wednesday that the tax inspections followed 'media shutdowns' and the 'jailing, harassing and surveilling [of] journalists.' 'Most independent media have been facing this scrutiny. What shocks even more is that also journalists and their families are faced with 'random' tax auditing,' Bielakowska wrote on social media platform LinkedIn. Beh Lih Yi, the Asia programme coordinator of the Committee to Protect Journalists, told HKFP that the IRD's move 'preposterous' and a 'weaponisation of financial and tax measures' targeting journalists. She added that Hong Kong was 'taking a page out of the playbook of authoritarian regimes elsewhere that are using similar intimidation tactics.' 'Targeting journalists with tax audits without sufficient evidence not only rings alarm bells for press freedom, but also raises concerns more broadly about Hong Kong as a safe and reliable location to do business,' Beh said. Statement: HKFP, which was 'randomly selected' for an audit in 2024, has always met its tax obligations, paid demands immediately, and ensured meticulous record-keeping. Donor data was withheld in paper submissions to Inland Revenue, with all 'hold' demands reduced to HK$0.… — Hong Kong Free Press HKFP (@hkfp) May 21, 2025 An IRD spokesperson told HKFP on Wednesday: 'The industry or background of a taxpayer has no bearing on such reviews.' In a statement on Wednesday, HKFP said it has been cooperating fully with its tax audit, having 'always met its tax obligations, paid IRD demands immediately, and ensured meticulous record-keeping since our 2015 inception.' Impact on press freedom Selina Cheng, chairperson of the HKJA, said in the press conference on Wednesday that the tax audits had a negative impact on press freedom as it hampered the daily operations of news outlets. 'They have to budget for additional audits, additional legal fees, additional time and energy seeking professional advice,' she said. 'I think, to small organisations and to individuals, that's a significant strain.' She added that the IRD also made errors and 'strange, unreasonable claims' in their auditing. One media outlet had its tax audited for a financial year before it was even established, Cheng said. When asked by HKFP, the IRD did not respond directly to the HKJA's allegations of mistakes. In the annual Reporters Without Borders (RSF) Press Freedom Index, released last month, Hong Kong fell five spots to 140th out of 180 territories. The former British colony, once with a freewheeling press, entered the 'red zone' – meaning a 'very serious' situation for journalism – for the first time in RSF's index. China ranked 178th out of 180. Since the Beijing-imposed national security law came into effect in 2020, dozens of civil society groups have shuttered. Two of Hong Kong's biggest independent media outlets – Apple Daily and Stand News – also saw their offices raided and their top staff arrested. Last year, the HKJA said there was a 'systematic and organised attack' upon the city's media sector, after receiving reports from journalists from at least 13 media outlets saying they or their family members had received anonymous harassment letters. During the press conference on Wednesday, Cheng said the media outlets that were inspected by the IRD partly overlapped with those that faced harassment last year.
HKFP
22-05-2025
- Business
- HKFP
Hong Kong press union says gov't made ‘mistakes,' ‘unreasonable claims' in independent news sector tax audits
The Hong Kong Journalists Association (HKJA) has said that the government's tax authority made errors and 'strange, unreasonable claims' when auditing independent media outlets and issuing additional demands. 'We've noticed that the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) made numerous mistakes while reviewing the tax [records of media outlets and reporters],' Selina Cheng, the chairperson of the union, said in Cantonese on Wednesday. facing simultaneous tax audits and backdated demands. At least six independent outlets and 20 individuals, including the heads of media outlets and their spouses, have received notification of audits and additional tax demands since November 2023, Cheng said. The outlets include InMedia,The Witness, ReNews, Boomhead, HKFP, and one that did not wish to be named. The financial years being probed span the full six or seven years allowable under the IRD's remit. Those inspected usually receive a notice of assessment of additional tax first, the press union chief said. Then, they are requested to pay a provisional tax demand before the investigation into any alleged underpayment is complete. Cheng said an individual who did not run any companies received a notice from the IRD with a company Business Registration (BR) number, and was asked to pay tax for the firm. The union searched the number and found that it did not exist. 'That journalist was asked to pay profits tax even though they didn't conduct any business,' she alleged. Another media outlet had its tax audited for a financial year before the company was even established, Cheng added. 'We noted that the IRD had some kind of strange, or unreasonable claims with details that we noted that didn't make any sense,' Cheng has said. In some other cases, Cheng said the IRD had calculated individuals' taxable income as double the actual amount. Cheng told HKFP on Thursday that the union was undecided as to whether they would approach the government watchdog, the Ombudsman, about the apparent errors. In response to HKFP about the journalist group's claims, the IRD said on Wednesday that the authority 'has established procedures' to review the information provided by taxpayers and to verify the amount of tax payable. 'If there is any information showing that any person may have breached the provisions of the Inland Revenue Ordinance (IRO), the IRD will follow up the case in accordance with the IRO,' the IRD said. Statement: HKFP, which was 'randomly selected' for an audit in 2024, has always met its tax obligations, paid demands immediately, and ensured meticulous record-keeping. Donor data was withheld in paper submissions to Inland Revenue, with all 'hold' demands reduced to HK$0.… — Hong Kong Free Press HKFP (@hkfp) May 21, 2025 It added that the 'industry or background of a taxpayer has no bearing on such reviews.' In a statement on Wednesday, HKFP said it has been cooperating fully with its tax audit, having 'always met its tax obligations, paid IRD demands immediately, and ensured meticulous record-keeping since our 2015 inception.' The HKJA itself has also faced a probe. In January, it said the IRD demanded HK$400,000 from the group after reviewing its 2017-2018 accounts. 'Additional time and energy' According to the HKJA, the total amount demanded from the six media outlets and other related organisations was around HK$700,000, while the total amount demanded from individuals was around HK$1 million. Companies and individuals have a month to raise objections, according to IRD procedures. Cheng said all the media outlets, individuals and the HKJA raised objections and most of them saw the requested payment of provisional tax suspended. However, being subject to such audits burdens the independent media sector, which often has limited resources and manpower. 'They have to budget for additional audits, additional legal fees, additional time and energy seeking professional advice,' she said. Reports of government scrutiny come as the state of press freedom in Hong Kong remains in the spotlight. In the annual Reporters Without Borders (RSF) Press Freedom Index, released last month, Hong Kong tumbled five spots to enter the 'red zone' – meaning a 'very serious' situation – for the first time, alongside China. Since the Beijing-imposed national security law came into effect in 2020, dozens of civil society groups have shuttered. 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, has been 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.
New Straits Times
22-05-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
"Unreasonable" tax audit of some Hong Kong media
HONG KONG: At least five local media outlets in Hong Kong and multiple journalists had their taxes from years ago audited on "unreasonable grounds", a press association said Wednesday. Hong Kong's press freedom ranking has plummeted since Beijing cracked down on dissent after huge, sometimes violent pro-democracy protests in 2019. The Hong Kong tax authorities alleged that a group of online outlets, reporters and some of their family members had failed to report their income from 2017 to 2019 in full. Backdated demands have been issued as a result, according to the Hong Kong Journalists Association (HKJA). The association told reporters it believed the audits "were not based on sufficient evidence or reasonable grounds." The impacted media outlets listed by the HKJA include Hong Kong Free Press, Inmedia and The Witness, a news site focused on covering court cases, as well as two others. HKJA said the tax department had claimed back money for "bizarre" reasons, including calculating non-existent income from before one of the outlets was founded. Selina Cheng, the HKJA's chair and a former Wall Street Journal reporter, said the association, herself and her parents were also impacted. Hong Kong's Inland Revenue Department (IRD) said it followed the legal process and that its actions were not aimed at specific industries, according to local media. IRD added that it would not comment on "individual cases." Hong Kong journalists rated the city's press freedom lower than ever in an annual survey last year, citing fears around sweeping national security laws. More than 90 percent of journalists surveyed said the city's press freedom was "significantly" impacted by a domestic security law enacted in March 2024 that punishes crimes like espionage and foreign interference. Colloquially known as Article 23, it was the second such law enacted for the financial hub, following one imposed by Beijing in 2020 after the pro-democracy protests. China's foreign ministry said that Hong Kong's security laws "target a very small number of individuals who severely endanger national security, not law-abiding media reporters."
