The Chinese Central government "urged" domestic and foreign media to follow seven must-nots in connection of reporting "Hong Kong handover" in a May 28 release.
1. Negative reporting on the handover
2. No economic policy comparison between Guangdong and other provinces
3. Labor union conflict in Hong Kong
4. All announcements made by England should be published only through Xinhua
5. No Chinese press are allowed to visit Shenzhen Special Economic Zone without prior permit.
6. Serious social discrepancy and serious crimes during the handover
7. Don't use the handover for economic advancement (1)
Journalists in Hong Kong felt more pressure from the Chinese Central government which recently sent more than 200 overseers to pro-China newspapers and magazines.
Mounting pressure of journalists has caused by the recent arrests of two Chinese journalists on suspicion of stealing government confidential information.
Jonathan Mirsky, veteran Bureau Chief of the Times was one of them. He was declined a visa to China from the government since he wrote negative articles on the Chinese government. Journalists have a tendency to look at everything with a critical eye. If they are not allowed in a country, it is viewed as a denial of freedom of the press, Sankei Shinbun reported. (2)
Well-experienced political reporters started to leave from their work place after they found they were hampered by various restrictions in reporting. Of 20 general dailies among 50 dailies in Hong Kong, average employment term is as short as three years. Only one reporter among more than 200 editorial staff of Ming Bao has the knowledge of the process of Britain and China Reverse negotiation. The future of media in Hong Kong is bleak, Asahi Shinbun reported. (3)
Hong Kong Journalists Association with membership of 650 independent journalists demanded Hong Kong Legislative Council to treat all media equally. In the protest, they denounced the fact that China state-run news agency and TV stations were allowed to cover the meeting between Hong Kong Legislative Chief and Hong Kong Commander of People's Liberation Army, Asahi Shimbun reported. (4)
