Hong Kong media should “contribute” to national development by telling “good stories” of the city and China amid geopolitical uncertainties, chief executive John Lee has said.
Speaking at the annual Hong Kong News Awards ceremony on Friday, Lee said Media practitioners in Hong Kong should aspire to contribute not only to the city’s progress but also to China’s national development.
He referred to the “Three Deeds for Immortality”, an ancient Chinese philosophy, and asked media workers to rank “virtue”, “contribution” and “learning”.
He said the promotion of national and city interests should be the core values of those in the media industry, especially amid uncertainties in global politics.
See also: Explainer: Hong Kong press freedom under national security law
“Journalism has great influence and therefore comes with great responsibilities,” Lee said in Cantonese. “Such responsibilities include being impartial, not using the news for personal gain, and reporting accurate and high-quality information to residents.”
Lee said the government is working Hong Kong’s first five-year project concurrent with China’s 15th Five-Year Plan, a set of policy initiatives outlined by the Chinese Communist Party that has set the stage for the country’s social and economic development since the 1950s.
The 15th five-year plan, announced in March, proposes accelerating the development of a “Chinese narrative system” and enhancing the country’s image on the global stage, Lee said.
“Excellent media workers… should help Hong Kong to serve the country, connect with the world and contribute the power of news to society and people’s well-being,” he said.
Lee has called on Hong Kong’s media sector to tell good stories of the city since becoming Chief Executive in 2022. He has made similar comments during past speeches at the Hong Kong News Awards ceremony, thought to be the first time he has directly asked media workers to contribute to China’s development.
Hong Kong has fell on the freedom of the international press indices since the beginning of 2020 and 2024 safety laws. The guards cite the arrest and the imprisonment of journalists, raids on newsrooms and the closure of about 10 media outlets, incl Apple Daily, Stand News AND Citizen News.
