Strategic Interaction, Cultural Co-orientation, and Press Freedom in Hong Kong

Abstract

This article discusses press freedom in Hong Kong since the handover. It argues that in the immediate years after reunification, the strategic interaction between the media and the power holders within a commonly accepted framework has contributed to an ‘equilibrium condition’ in which there was no huge and apparent loss of press freedom. The equilibrium was maintained by a clear distinction between national and local issues. At the same time, the handover has led to processes of cultural co-orientation which further ‘de-problematized’ news coverage of certain sensitive national issues. Nevertheless, political developments in recent years have led to the breakdown of the national–local boundary. The original equilibrium was destabilized, which led to renewed concerns of press freedom in the city.

Keywords:

• Press Freedom
• Strategic Interaction
• Cultural Co-orientation
• National–Local Conflicts
• Self-censorship

The work described in this article was fully supported by a grant from the Research Grants Committee of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China (CUHK4136/04H).

Notes

1. This, of course, does not mean that China did not pull strings from behind. For example, the SAR Chief Executive election was widely assumed to be tightly controlled by the Central government.

2. After 2003, a notion widely circulated in the media was that the Chinese government has pinpointed ‘one newspaper, one magazine, and two mouths’ as the major cause of anti-government sentiments in Hong Kong. The phrase refers to the Apple Daily, the Next Magazine, and two highly prominent radio talk shows. For examples, see Ng Chi-sum (2004, May 4), ‘Today you have reached the same end’, Ming Pao, p. A27; Li Yee (2004, May 17), ‘Tired body, tired mind’, Apple Daily, p. E13.

3. The ‘state secrets’ reported by Xi Yang included samples of new banknotes, information about the selling of gold by the country, adjustment of exchange rates, and the plan to raise interest rates.

4. See Chan and Lee (2006) and Lee (2006) for empirical studies of media contents.

5. The author conducted the survey in collaboration with Clement Y. K. So and Joseph Man Chan.

6. The poll findings can be accessed at http://hkupop.hku.hk

7. Personal interview conducted in August 2006.

8. Poll findings are available at http://hkupop.hku.hk

9. Amidst public discontent towards the sensationalist media in 1999, the SAR government proposed setting up a statutory press council to monitor media ethics. Opinion polls at the time showed a majority support for the proposal, although the idea was aborted because of strong opposition from professional journalists. An independent press council was set up instead.