Hong Kong Free Press Annual Report: Our achievements, best coverage, & accounts from the past year
Our Mission & Impact.
The Best of HKFP 2023.
HKFP Awards.
2023 Ethics Revamp.
2023 Achievements.
Impact & Positioning.
Staff & Structure.
Transparency Report 2023.
Press Freedom in 2023.
How to Support HKFP.
Download the 2023 Annual Report [PDF]
Mission and impact:
The Best of HKFP 2023:
Awards
Photo: Courtesy of Britt Clennett.
YearAwardTitlePrize2016Human Rights Press Awards: University English language writingSexual harassment at Hong Kong’s universities – rarely reported, but not rareMerit2019Human Rights Press Awards: Student Video & Audio (English)‘I am prepared to be imprisoned’ – Chinese human rights lawyer Lin QileiWinner2020Index on Censorship’s 2020 Freedom of Expression AwardHong Kong Free Press shortlistedFinalist2020SOPA: Excellence in Photography (Regional)Shots of the 2019 Hong Kong protest movementFinalist2020SOPA: Excellence in Explanatory Reporting (Regional)Hong Kong’s new methodology of protest, explainedHonourable mention2021Nobel Peace PrizeHong Kong Free Press nominatedNominated2021SOPA: Excellence in Opinion Writing (Regional)Hong Kong’s protest movement in perspectiveHonourable mention2023SOPA: Excellence in Opinion Writing (Regional)Press Freedom Day: As long as there are journalists in Hong Kong, there will be journalismHonourable mention2023Human Rights Press Awards: Single ImageRolling up ‘Asia’s World City’Merit
2023 Ethics Revamp
2023 Achievements
Executive Editor Mercedes Hutton, Reporter Irene Chan, Photojournalist Kyle Lam, Senior Reporter Kelly Ho, Editor-in-chief Tom Grundy, Reporter James Lee, Reporter Hans Tse, Social Media & Production Editor Shan Chan and Reporter Hillary Leung, and Pixel the dog. Impact & Positioning
Staff & Structure Tom Grundy twitter Mercedes Hutton twitter linkedin Kelly Ho twitter linkedin Irene Chan twitter linkedin Shan Chan twitter Hillary Leung twitter James Lee twitter Hans Tse twitter Kyle Lam twitter Transparency Report HKFP Income 2016-2023
Income2023* 820172016Direct contributionsHK$3,618,236.94HK$3,587,606HK$4,497,890HK$6,357,972HK$6,056,859HK$2,463,408HK$1,769,760HK$1,063,125Ads & content salesHK$233,699.46HK$418,957HK$143,695HK$110,247HK$271,066HK$136,084HK$328,759HK$92,276EventsHK$0HK$0HK$0HK$0HK$263,361HK$24,390HK$0HK$8,352Bank interest, insurance claim, exchange gainTBCHK$6,516HK$3,945HK$10HK$226HK$21HK$1HK$12Gov’t Covid subsidyHK$0HK$96,000HK$0HK$216,000HK$0HK$0HK$0HK$0Total:HK$3,844,936.40HK$4,109,079HK$4,645,530HK$6,697,010HK$6,591,512HK$2,623,903HK$2,098,520HK$1,163,765*2023 predicted, not yet audited
Current Revenue Streams: 💰 Reader supported: 94% of HKFP’s income comes directly from our readers, assuring our press freedom and independence.
♻️ Surplus recycled: As a non-profit, with no shareholders, investors or umbrella company overseeing it, any surplus is recycled back into the HKFP newsroom for future use.
🔒 Future security: As of 2021, HKFP LTD is obliged to retain a HK$1.5m legal defence fund in light of new challenges to press freedom, in addition to an emergency fund of HK$1m.
💡Efficiency: HKFP is run as efficiently and prudently as possible, in order to maximise the impact of our donors’ generosity. We make savings by partnering with other media outlets, using free software/tools and making full use of teamwork and automation.
📝To view our full audits, click here. HKFP Spending 2016-2023
Expenditure2023* 820172016Full-time staff payrollHK$4,072,093HK$3,624,759HK$1,952,853HK$1.599mHK$1.606mHK$1.49mHK$1.340mHK$1.035mMandatory Provident Fund (pensions)HK$151,150HK$137,960HK$76,662HK$72,221HK$68,123HK$69,234HK$66,180HK$50,942Web & software, newswire, commissionHK$213,998HK$227,068HK$138,532HK$132,269HK$129,543HK$58,693HK$33,083Office, sundry, recruitment/training, telecomHK$380,306HK$447,234HK$273,244HK$109,289HK$164,256HK$110,414HK$57,565HK$25,801Meals/drinks for volunteers/staff/sourcesHK$41,540HK$20,506HK$25,178HK$18,324HK$29,686HK$14,028HK$17,106HK$25,531Legal, professional, registration, auditHK$2,239HK$114,143HK$37,365HK$96,505HK$12,340HK$7,385HK$45,231HK$10,845Travel & insuranceHK$153,427HK$174,445HK$67,513HK$72,391HK$50,615HK$78,067HK$8,169HK$8,267Stationery, merch, postage, printingHK$65,233HK$44,240HK$207,392HK$208,544HK$42,311HK$11,827HK$686HK$17,124Bank charges, penalties & exchange lossesHK$1,533HK$2,155HK$4,232HK$13,752HK$4,240HK$1,705HK$1,170HK$2,218Freelancer payments & gearHK$152,779HK$246,454HK$936,072HK$595,693HK$289,387HK$64,400HK$34,090HK$0TaxTBCTBCHK$59,518HK$408,496HK$509,211HK$29,816HK$13,343HK$0AdvertisingHK$38,127HK$37,527HK$78,745HK$6,914HK$36,597HK$34,371HK$10,261HK$0Membership, research/polls, repairs & otherHK$11,600HK$2,778HK$5,060HK$118,800––––Total:HK$5,284,025HK$5,079,269HK$3.74mHK$3.04mHK$2.89m*HK$2.04mHK$1.65mHK$1.20m Executive Editor Mercedes Hutton, Reporter Irene Chan, Photojournalist Kyle Lam, Senior Reporter Kelly Ho, Editor-in-chief Tom Grundy, Reporter James Lee, Reporter Hans Tse, Social Media & Production Editor Shan Chan and Reporter Hillary Leung, and Pixel the dog. HKFP Patrons in 2023:
895 – Number of monthly Patrons.
HK$182,551 – Monthly income from Patrons (before fees.)
HK$203 – Average monthly Patron contribution. ⚠️ Our number of patrons declined by 8% in 2023, whilst the average monthly contribution rose by 5%.
💰66% of monthly contributors donate via credit/debit card (Stripe,) whilst the rest use PayPal.
📝 Figures exclude those who contribute by cheque/bank transfer.
💡 HKFP Patrons are given priority and/or free entry to HKFP events, merch and our Annual Report, and help keep the site free-to-access for those who cannot afford to contribute. Press Freedom in 2023
January 2023
Defunct independent Hong Kong news outlet Citizen News removed all of the content from its website and social media platforms, as the online publication marked a year since it ceased operations.
Hong Kong newspaper Ming Pao was criticised by one of the city’s top officials over a comic strip about Beijing’s recent interpretation of the national security law.
Hong Kong broadcaster TVB ropped all BBC channels from its streaming service.
Britain will stand up to “Chinese aggression” and defend Hong Kong’s freedoms, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak vowed after his government intervened in the case of jailed media tycoon Jimmy Lai.
A committee on safeguarding national security in Hong Kong urged the city’s government to change the law as quickly as possible so it can ban a British lawyer from representing former pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai at his security trial.
Hong Kong’s Immigration Department barred freelance photographer Michiko Kiseki from the city last month.
The local legal team representing jailed Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai in his high-profile national security trial said it was not “professionally associated” with an international group of lawyers who reportedly met with a UK minister over Lai’s case.
Hong Kong’s Chief Executive John Lee said there were people using journalism as a cover to pursue political aims, personal benefit, or “launder money” in the city.
Hong Kong’s top court allowed journalist Bao Choy to appeal her conviction over accessing car licence information for an investigative documentary about a mob attack in Yuen Long in July 2019.
The government watchdog rejected a complaint filed by HKFP related to the authorities’ refusal to disclose its media invite list for Chief Executive John Lee’s inauguration last July 1.
Chen Zhiming, chief editor of Hong Kong magazine Exclusive Character, was reportedly missing in mainland China for over four months.
A Hong Kong reporter who was allegedly shot at with a police projectile during a protest in 2019 expressed disappointment that his complaint was rejected.
The sedition trial against two ex-chief editors of defunct media outlet Stand News continued, as the court heard testimony from one of the defendants, former editor-in-chief Chung Pui-kuen.
February 2023
Monitoring the authorities is the duty of the media, pro-establishment newspaper Oriental Daily said in an editorial after it was criticised by the police for a video commentary on the force’s performance.
Hong Kong journalist Bao Choy vowed to “monitor the rich and powerful” and “seek truth” with her newly launched media outlet The Collective HK.
Pro-democracy media mogul Jimmy Lai asked the High Court to prevent Beijing’s recent interpretation of the national security law from affecting an earlier ruling that allowed him to be represented by a UK lawyer at his upcoming trial.
Chinese activists – including dissident artist Badiucao – were approached by social media users falsely claiming to be journalists from Reuters, the news agency reported on Tuesday.
The trial against two former Stand News top editors charged under the colonial-era sedition law continued as the prosecution carried on the cross-examination of Chung Pui-kuen, ex-editor-in-chief.
The Hong Kong government submitted a proposal to introduce legislative amendments which would require local courts to obtain a certificate from the city’s leader before considering whether to allow foreign counsels to act in national security cases.
March 2023
Coconuts wound down its Hong Kong news site, citing commercial and journalistic challenges. The announcement came days after a new general manager took over the publishing group.
The founder of an independent Hong Kong news publication and two others pleaded guilty to selling a “seditious” book at a Lunar New Year fair.
HKJA called on the police to “maintain professionalism” while on duty, after a journalist was reportedly pushed by an officer while filming outside a courthouse.
HKJA condemned the harassment and surveillance of local journalists, after an HKFP court reporter was followed from her home to her workplace for over an hour by two men with earpieces.
HKJA said it received several recent reports of journalists being tailed, as police slammed the group over “unverified speculations” that those following journalists were suspected of being members of law enforcement.
Two ex-Stand News editors charged under the colonial-era sedition law continued to stand trial.
April 2023
Hong Kong’s security chief criticised Ming Pao over a “misleading” comic strip about the government’s plan to spend HK$5.2 billion on a new communications system.
Chung Pui-kuen, former top Stand News editor, completed his testimony in his sedition trial as the case was adjourned to June for closing arguments.
Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee refused to comment on reports received by the city’s largest press group that reporters had been followed by unknown men.
Hong Kong journalists who have emigrated faced a number of difficulties when trying to start their careers in media overseas, according to a report published by an overseas journalists’ body.
Social media platform Twitter slapped Hong Kong’s government-backed broadcaster RTHK with a “state-affiliated media” label.
RTHK said it will “follow up” with Twitter, after the social media platform added a “state-affiliated media” label to the outlet’s official account.
Hong Kong pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai filed a legal bid against the government decision to reject any further work visa applications from an overseas counsel he had hired for his national security case.
Hong Kong’s pensions fund authority emanded that American newspaper The Wall Street Journal retract “misinformation” in an op-ed about holders of British National Overseas passports’ access to their pensions.
The Hong Kong government barred several government-registered media outlets from covering a National Security Education Day event, ignoring emails and evading questions by phone when challenged as to why.
The son and overseas lawyers of Jimmy Lai urged the United Nations to condemn the prosecution on “trumped-up” charges of the pro-democracy media tycoon, sparking criticism of them from the Hong Kong government.
“The media landscape in Hong Kong has been as vibrant as ever” following the implementation of the national security law, the government said in a criticism of a UK all-party parliamentary group report.
May 2023
The government watchdog agreed to investigate HKFP’s complaint against the Information Services Department over their handling of a press event which saw several government-registered outlets barred from attendance without explanation.
Blocking pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai’s overseas counsel from representing him in his national security trial is “persecution not prosecution,” his lawyer said in an application to halt the trial.
Chief Executive John Lee told a reporter that the pro-democracy demonstrations and unrest of 2019 should be referred to as the “black violence,” not “protests.”
Hong Kong ranked 140th among the 180 regions at the Reporters Without Borders press freedom ranking released on World Press Freedom Day.
Hong Kong journalist Bao Choy appealed to the city’s top court against her conviction linked to checking vehicle registration records for a documentary about the Yuen Long attacks in 2019.
Hong Kong transport news site Transit Jam ceased operations, its owner announced, making it the latest outlet to disappear in the wake of the security law. The closure came days after its founder was targeted in the state-run press.
After 40 years, Hong Kong’s most prominent political cartoonist Zunzi had his comic strip suspended after a satirical post was criticised by government bodies.
Hong Kong’s security minister hit back at the journalists’ association after it said the suspension of a long-standing political cartoon strip following repeated government complaints showed that the city “could not tolerate critical voices.”
Books by satirical cartoonist Zunzi isappeared from Hong Kong public library listings, after his comic strip was axed by newspaper Ming Pao on Wednesday following criticism from an official.
The defence questioned whether an exchange between the head of Hong Kong’s largest journalists’ group Ronson Chan and a plainclothes police officer could have happened as described, as the trial against Chan began.
Over 100 international media leaders around the world expressed support for detained Hong Kong pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai in Hong Kong in a joint statement on Tuesday organised by Reporters Without Borders.
The head of Hong Kong’s largest journalists’ group said he feared a privacy breach when he was asked to show his identity card by a plainclothes officer, a court heard.
Hong Kong’s Court of First Instance rejected attempts by pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai to challenge a decision made by Hong Kong’s national security committee relating to the admission of an overseas lawyer for his trial.
A lifestyle editor who was not from a traditional news correspondent background was elected as president of the Hong Kong Foreign Correspondents’ Club, after he ran unopposed in the leadership race.
Hong Kong’s Foreign Correspondents’ Club raised concerns after the government inexplicably barred several media outlets from a National Security Education Day event on April 15. It was their first press freedom statement of 2013.
Hong Kong pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai’s bid to halt the national security trial against him was rejected by the city’s Court of First Instance.
Hong Kong’s Foreign Correspondents’ Club devised a set of guidelines for releasing statements on press freedom issues, which includes seeking legal advice and contacting government departments ahead of publishing.
Hong Kong pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai is expected to face an 83-day national security trial, a court heard.
June 2023
A Hong Kong press group urged the city’s police to provide an explanation after its former chairperson was led away by officers while she was reporting on the 34th anniversary of the Tiananmen crackdown.
The Hong Kong government condemned US politicians’ calls for a joint effort with the UK to prioritise the release of pro-democracy media mogul Jimmy Lai by sanctioning Hong Kong officials, prosecutors, and judges involved in national security law detentions.
Pro-democracy media mogul Jimmy Lai filed an appeal against the High Court’s rejection of his attempt to challenge a national security committee decision which effectively barred a foreign lawyer from representing him.
Journalist Bao Choy’s conviction for making false statements to access vehicle records was quashed after five judges ruled unanimously in favour of her appeal at the city’s top court. Her sentence was also set aside.
Authorities will review the top court’s judgement that saw journalist Bao Choy’s conviction quashed to “improve” procedures related to accessing vehicle records, Chief Executive John Lee said.
The District Court heard closing arguments in the trial against two former editors of now-defunct news outlet Stand News. The verdict will be handed down in October.
The Court of Appeal blocked media tycoon Jimmy Lai’s bid to challenge a national security search warrant of his phones, which he said contained protected journalistic materials, at the city’s top court.
The journalists’ association says it is looking to intervene in a legal bid by the government to ban all forms of the protest song Glory to Hong Kong, in the hopes of gaining an exemption for media reporting. A statement said the press group wants to “protect the work of journalists.”
Citizens’ Radio, a pro-democracy pirate radio station, ceased operating on June 30 after its founder said the station’s bank account had been frozen.
A prominent Chinese financial journalist who compared the country’s economic problems to the Great Depression was banned from social media.
Hong Kong may drop plans for a “fake news” law, Chief Executive John Lee suggested, saying the problem can be tackled by other means.
July 2023
Government-funded broadcaster RTHK suspended an LGBTQ-related radio programme after 17 years, the host of the programme said on its official Facebook page.
The West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts received written closing statements in the trial against journalist Ronson Chan, who stands accused of obstructing a police officer.
A court ruled that journalists will be allowed to report on matters related to 2019 protest anthem Glory to Hong Kong, should the government’s bid to ban unlawful acts relating to the song be successful.
Authorities proposed that programmes about national education, national identity, and those which promote a “correct understanding” of the national security law could be exempt from an impartiality clause requiring “even-handedness” when opposing points of view are presented.
The government watchdog rejected HKFP’s complaint against the Information Services Department over their handling of an unexplained media ban at press event, finding no evidence of maladministration.
HKJA said Hong Kong’s press freedom index dipped further, largely due to journalists being hesitant to criticise the central government.
A survey conducted by the Hong Kong Foreign Correspondents’ Club (FCC) found that almost 70 per cent of journalists in Hong Kong say they have self-censored in their own writing.
Chief Secretary for Administration Eric Chan claimed there was no conflict between the media’s journalistic work and the Beijing-imposed national security law.
Japanese journalist Yoshiaki Ogawa, known for his coverage of Hong Kong’s protests, was barred from entering Hong Kong ays before the 26th anniversary of its Handover to China.
China’s representative intervened at the UN in an unsuccessful effort to stop the son of detained media tycoon Jimmy Lai from testifying.
August 2023
US photojournalist Matthew Connors, who covered the 2019 protests and unrest, said that he was denied entry to Hong Kong when he tried to visit for tourism purposes.
Press freedom NGO Reporters Without Borders criticised the Hong Kong authorities after Swiss photojournalist Marc Progin was faced with HK$500,000 in legal costs despite being cleared of a public disorder charge.
The national security trial of pro-democracy media mogul Jimmy Lai was delayed again to December, 2023 to ensure that one of the handpicked judges will have finished presiding over another landmark national security case involving 47 democrats.
The HKJA said it will offer assistance to employees of local newspaper Sky Post, which will soon publish its final print edition.
September 2023
The Communications Authority rejected complaints against a now-deleted RTHK documentary that examined the 2019 Yuen Long mob attacks.
Sebastien Lai, the son of detained media mogul Jimmy Lai, spoke at an UN event on media freedom, as the government slammed the occasion as “political manipulation.”
Ronson Chan, the head of the HKJA, was found guilty of obstructing a police officer while reporting last September and was sentenced to five days in prison before being granted bail pending appeal.
The Court of Appeal heard the HKJA and the RTHK Staff Union’s joint appeal against the city’s communications regulator’s decision to issue a warning over RTHK’s satirical programme Headliner.
October 2023
A Hong Kong judge called for an investigation after prosecutors claimed that video footage linked to a rioting case during the 2019 Yuen Long mob attacks had been released by an online media outlet ahead of the trial.
Net satisfaction with press freedom in Hong Kong stood at negative 8 per cent, while 13 per cent of people believed the local news media had given full play to the freedom of speech, according to a PORI survey.
Google received a request from the Hong Kong Police Force to remove 5 videos featuring “The Hong Konger“, a documentary about pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai from YouTube, a report read.
November 2023
The verdict in the trial against two former editors of now-defunct news outlet Stand News was postponed again pending a higher court’s ruling, expected in 2024.
The HKJA expressed “deep regret” that reporters were not allowed to interview attendees at an international finance summit organised by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority.
December 2023
The HKJA raised concern after Japanese media reported that South China Morning Post (SCMP) reporter Minnie Chan had gone missing after a work trip to China. Responding to an enquiry from HKFP, SCMP said Chan was on personal leave concerning a private matter and also threatened legal action.
The SCMP withdrew an opinion piece after being unable to verify the writer’s credentials.
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2024-02-18 | HKFP Announcements, Hong Kong, hong kong free press | English | HKFP