Hong Kong’s government and legislature have condemned Reporters Without Borders (RSF) behind the city ranked low in the NGO’s annual press freedom index.
They also attacked German public broadcaster Deutsche Welle (DW). CLUE Imprisoned media mogul and founder of Apple Daily, Jimmy Lai, a press freedom award.
In RSF’s 2026 global press freedom index, released on Thursday, Hong Kong was ranked 140th out of 180 countries and territories – the same position as last year. The press freedom NGO highlighted the 20-year sentence given to Lai, who was sentenced last year under the security law.
On the same day, DW – which receives German federal funding – presented its 12th Freedom of Speech Award to the 78-year-old prisoner.
Attempts at ‘defamation, defamation’
In response, the Hong Kong government issued a press release on Friday, saying it “strongly condemned the efforts of an anti-China organization and foreign media to tear down the criminal acts of national security violator (Jimmy) Lai Chee-ying and slander, slander, as well as attack the HKSAR by issuing a so-called press freedom index and presenting such so-called “contempt of law and law-breaking” behavior. It distorted the facts, which should be severely punished.”
He cited 156 days of public hearings and 2,220 pieces of evidence during Lai’s trial. “These are testaments to the fact that Lai Chee-ying and the other defendants were found guilty only after a fair trial,” he said.
“The suggestion that any person or organization of a particular background should be immune from legal sanctions for their illegal actions and activities is tantamount to granting such persons privileges to break the law and is completely contrary to the spirit of the rule of law.”
Lai’s trial was overseen by security law judges selected by the city’s leader. He was denied his first choice of counsel.
The statement added that Lai had “joined with foreign forces to seek sanctions and engaged in hostile activities”, with the court hearing that Lai had sought to invite sanctions on the territory through his platforms and media appearances.
The press release named RSF, claiming that the NGO is funded by the US and the EU and that its ranking lacks credibility. The government also called the RSF “a tool for anti-China forces”.
The same condemnation was echoed a few hours later by the Secretariat of the Legislative Council (LegCo).
In a special STATEMENTThe LegCo Secretariat said it “strongly condemned the release of a so-called press freedom index by a foreign media organization and the presentation of a so-called award for national security violator Lai Chee-ying to bring down his criminal acts and tarnish press freedom and the rule of law” in Hong Kong.
“LegCo calls on the international community to recognize the facts and immediately stop any baseless, distorting, misleading and malicious attacks against Hong Kong,” he added.
Defending ‘Not Against China’ Journalism
RSF’s Aleksandra Bielakowska – who was denied entry to the city in 2024 – responded to Hong Kong authorities in a LinkedIn post on Saturday.
“To make it clear once again: defending journalism is not ‘anti-China’; it is pro-press freedom,” she said. “At RSF, we stand shoulder to shoulder with Hong Kong journalists. We will not be intimidated and continue to support all media in Hong Kong, in the hope that one day we will see positive changes and that the city will return to its golden years as an example and beacon of press freedom.”
Ranked 140th in RSF’s press freedom index, between Rwanda and Syria, Hong Kong remains in the “red zone” – meaning a “very serious” situation. In 2002, the city was ranked 18th, and in 2019, it was ranked 73rd.
But between 2021 and 2022, it fell from 80 to 148, as Apple Daily and other independent media were shut down amid the onset of security legislation.
Hong Kong has international press freedom has declined significantly indices since the beginning of 2020 and 2024 safety laws. The guards cite the arrest and the imprisonment of journalists, raid on the newsroom and the closure of about 10 media outlets, incl Apple Daily, Stand News AND Citizen News. on 1000 journalists have lost their jobs, while many have emigrated. Meanwhile, the city’s government-funded broadcaster RTHK has adopted new editorial guidelinescleansed its archives and ax tidings AND satirical shows
See also: Explainer: Hong Kong press freedom under national security law
In 2022, said chief executive John Lee freedom of the press was “in the pocket” of Hongkongers, but “no one is above the law”. Although he told the press that “tell a good Hong Kong story“, were the government departments reluctant to respond to arguments.
