World Press Freedom Day was celebrated on May 3. That same day, Reporters Without Borders (RSF), the international non-governmental organization, released its 2022 World Press Freedom Index showing Hong Kong ranked at a record low. It had fallen the furthest of any country from 80th place last year to 148th place today.
RSF’s 2022 edition of the World Press Freedom Index assesses the state of the press in 180 countries and regions around the world. Hong Kong’s score this year was only 41.64 out of 100, moving it down 68 places and to a ranking lower than the Philippines and Libya.
RSF pointed out that Hong Kong was originally a bastion of press freedom, but the passage of Beijing’s National Security Law in 2020 led to an unprecedented setback. Although Hong Kong law provides for “freedom of speech, press, and publication,” the national security law has been used to suppress independent voices. Because of its vague provisions, any journalist covering Hong Kong issues, whether in Hong Kong or not, can be affected. More than 10 journalists have been detained in the past year in connection with national security cases.
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