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Columbia Journalism Review Cites Self-censorship As Main Danger to Press Freedom in Hong Kong

Advises on What to Look for after July 1 in Measuring New Government's Effect on Journalistic Performance
Self-censorship is the greatest enemy of Hong Kong's lively local press and long tradition of press freedom as China prepares to take over the territory July 1, says the Columbia Journalism Review in its May/June issue just published. Signs are already apparent, writes Elliott Cohen, an editor for Bloomberg Business News in Hong Kong: When Deng Xiaoping died, readers of the extensive obituaries in local newspapers needed "a fine net to catch mention of his leading role in the June 4, 1989, killings of protesters at Tiananmen Square." Coverage of political leaders in the Legislative Council who will be replaced by Bejing appointees has declined. A popular local cartoonist's strip was dropped immediately after it suggested that a citizen who agreed that "Li Peng is a fascist murderous dog" became an instant organ donor. "Since the Sino-British Joint Declaration of 1984 sealed the colony's return to China, the greatest enemy of press freedom in Hong Kong has been self- censorship," Cohen writes. Foreign journalists there predict no profound change in their freedom to report after July 1, but local press will be under pressure. Supporting independence for Taiwan, Tibet, China's ethnic minorities or Hong Kong will be off limits. And "vague statements and ambiguous rumblings feeding a climate of fear may prove far more effective in curbing the press than specific directives." Watch for these early warning signs of waning press freedom, Cohen says: Discontinuation of BBC World Service broadcasts on Radio 6, part of RTHK, Hong Kong's editorially independent, government-owned public broadcaster. Media invisibility of ousted legislators. Any attempt to require foreign journalists to register with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Smaller size and coverage of Hong Kong's annual candlelight vigil to mark the Tiananmen Square protest. "The size of this year's demonstration, three and a half weeks before the handover, will indicate Hong Kong people's courage," writes Cohen. "Coverage of it and editorial comment will be a leading indicator of the media's." 4.29.97 19,113
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