CCP Targets Journalists and Families in Hong Kong

Journalists and their families in Hong Kong are experiencing escalating harassment and threats from the Communist Party of China, both online and offline. The frequency and severity of these incidents have increased in recent months, as stated by Hong Kong Journalists Association (HKJA) Chairperson Selina Cheng during a press conference on September 13.

An investigation by the HKJA revealed that systematic harassment peaked between June and August this year, with a notable surge from mid- to late August. This wave of intimidation impacted 15 organizations, including 13 media outlets and two journalism training institutions. Among the targets were the HKJA, Hong Kong Free Press, Inmedia, and Hong Kong Feature. Experts suggest that the Communist Party of China aims to exert control over Hong Kong similar to its grip on mainland China. The CCP is reportedly agitated by the free press in Hong Kong, as it allows journalists to publish critical reports about China and its government in international media.

Since June, anonymous complaint emails from Microsoft Outlook accounts, purportedly from ‘patriots,’ have targeted at least 15 families of journalists, along with their employers or landlords. These messages, often threatening in nature, varied in tone. Larger organizations received formal complaints, while smaller outlets faced more menacing messages, sometimes featuring the journalist’s photo and text resembling a ransom note. It is believed that the espionage wings of the CCP, namely the Ministry of State Security (MSS) and the Ministry of Public Security (MPS), are orchestrating these activities. Their aim is to intimidate the journalist community into either abandoning their profession or leaving the country.

Since August, Facebook has seen a surge in hostile posts targeting media outlets and journalists, labeling legitimate reporting as illegal or seditious. The HKJA discovered that at least 36 journalists from various outlets were named in these posts. In some instances, harassers edited or posted threatening Wikipedia entries. Additionally, in at least four cases, harassing messages were sent to reporters’ work or home phone numbers shortly after these posts were published.

The CCP’s primary objective is to intimidate journalists, their families, or associates by disrupting their income sources or social connections. This strategy aims to pressure, isolate, and threaten them, ultimately forcing journalists to resign from their jobs or trade union roles. Cheng described these attacks as ‘coordinated and systematic,’ targeting the journalistic community as a whole rather than specific individuals. The HKJA condemned these intimidation tactics and reaffirmed its commitment to resist efforts to silence the press. However, in their statements, they refrained from directly implicating the Chinese Communist government.

Cheng compared the harassment to a ‘fishing expedition,’ where perpetrators move on if the target does not respond. At least four victims who engaged with the harassers faced escalating threats. She advised journalists to report these incidents to the police, inform the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data (PCPD), and avoid interacting with the harassers. Although some messages mentioned issues like Taiwan’s elections or Hong Kong’s ban on Japanese seafood, Cheng noted that the harassment did not seem to be tied to specific stories or outlets.

In late July, Cheng and two of her family members were harassed. The emails accused her relatives of promoting ‘anti-China sentiments’ and threatened their employers, warning that they might risk violating the National Security Law or Article 23 if they continued to associate with Cheng’s family members.

The HKJA, along with at least three journalists, has reported these incidents to the police. The HKJA denounced these actions as bullying and a severe breach of press freedom in Hong Kong. The harassers employed defamation and intimidation tactics to hinder journalists from working freely. The Association has also reached out to platforms like Meta and Wikipedia. In response, Wikipedia has banned a user who posted journalists’ personal information. Additionally, the HKJA is pursuing legal action and has lodged complaints with the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data (PCPD).

Additionally, three victims reported that their luggage was searched by customs upon re-entering Hong Kong, and two of them received threatening WhatsApp messages shortly after their arrival. The HKJA raised concerns about potential government data leaks, as the harassers had access to personal information that should not be publicly available. While there is no direct evidence linking the harassment to government agencies, the HKJA has called for an investigation and urged the authorities to safeguard the journalists’ privacy.

The HKJA encourages journalists and their families experiencing harassment to seek professional support, either through the HKJA or mental health services. The Association has established emotional counseling services to assist those affected by these incidents. It also advises journalists to protect their personal information by avoiding sharing family photos online and using strong, unique passwords with two-step verification for their accounts.

In response to a question on this issue at his weekly press conference on September 17, Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee stated that anyone in need of assistance from law enforcement agencies can report to the police or relevant departments such as the Immigration Department or Customs and Excise Department. ‘The law enforcement agencies will handle the cases impartially,’ he assured.