HONG KONG: At least 900 journalism jobs lost, media in exile after four years of draconian National Security Law

Four years after the enactment of a draconian national security law – a turning point in the decline of press freedom in Hong Kong – Reporters Without Borders (RSF) takes a closer look at the plight of exiled journalists and calls for greater support for their diaspora-led media.

Since Hong Kong’s National Security Law (NSL) was enacted on 30 June 2020, at least 900 journalists lost their jobs according to RSF’s statistics. Hundreds of these reporters moved overseas, and 10 media outlets were established by this diaspora in countries such as Taiwan and the United Kingdom. “Only 5% of my former Apple Daily colleagues continue to work as journalists, while the majority changed their career paths,” explains editor-in-chief of Photon Media, Shirley Leung Ka Lai. “Leaving Hong Kong made me feel helpless, but establishing a diaspora media empowered me, made me feel resistant and less guilty for leaving my homeland behind,” she adds. READ MORE from Reporters Without Borders