Even Jimmy Lai, forefront of anti-China sentiment reportedly refused to meet with foreign media in fear of forming anti-China image. Urban Lehner, Editor of Asian Wall Street Journal said instead of speechless Hong Kong media, that Hong Kong media apparently self-restricts freedom of speech in avoid to trouble with the central government. Chinese government is not tolerating for media to voice for Taiwan and Tibet independence as well as criticism of Central Communist Party members. Lerner heard these remarks directly from then Qian Qichen, Foreign Minister.
John Schidlovsky, head of the Asian Center of Freedom Forum, a US journalism institution based in Hong Kong, noted that Chinese government threatens anti-China media by promoting media buyout by pro-China publishers, advertisement, bans on reporting in China and unofficial warning to reporters and editors who are against China.
Media restriction is increasing, however, it does not seem the voices protecting freedom of speech will spread to individuals in Hong Kong. The president of Hong Kong Social Science Research Center explained the background of slow democratic movement. Democrat Martion Lee was educated under the system of Britain are having a difficult time to shark the idea with average Chinese people in Hong Kong. There are 5,000 people in Hong Kong who are against Chinese communist rule, representing scholars, US educated children of high ranking officials of Chinese communist party. Democratic movement led by Lee is serious and if major intervention from Chinese government is felt by Hong Kong people, the movement will intensify, Sankei Shinbun reportod. (5)
Reporting policy remained unchanged after the handover, according to emote views. David Yuan, Vice President of Chinese News Television Network (CTN) in Hong Kong said in his interview with the Asahi Shinbun that CTN has maintained the company's policy of fair reporting in politics after the handover. CTN is now a full subsidiary of a Taiwan conglomerate and the company has recently changed its reporting target to Hong Kong from the previous coverage of entire China. Yuan expects China will not have bold interference in Hong Kong reporting since they consider Hong Kong a key region for their future.
CTN also launched Chinese programs aimed at Chinese residents in Japan last year, Asahi Shinbun reported. (6)
