Chinese government is very reluctant to promote the Internet to the people, meanwhile, they are eager to develop a software which can restrict the Internet, quoted a South China Morning Post report.
The Chinese government is concerned about the availability of political news and pornography, according to Nikkei Sangyo Shimbun September 12, 1997. (7)
Fuji TV celebrated the opening of its Hong Kong bureau September 11, 1997 with the attendance of senior managing director of the headquarters. The company regards the Hong Kong bureau as the center of Asian reporting as well as joint production center with local agents, Sankei Shinbun reported. (8)
A Xinhua New York correspondent and his family disappeared in Paris, quoted a report in Apple Daily Hong Kong. The disappearance is viewed as a defection. He supported the 1989 Tiananmen Square Incident. Another similar defect involved a Xinhua Washington correspondent was revealed last March and he was sent back to Beijing and later he was found dead by suicide, Asahi Shimbun reported. (9)
Editorial writer of Chinese Economic Daily has been detained by Beijing Public Security Bureau since September 5, 1998. Hong Kong Journalists Association sent an open letter to Prime Minister Zhu Rongji contesting the arrest which violated the criminal code and human rights, Yomiuri Shimbun reported. (10)
April 6 media incident in Paris where Prime Minister Zhu Rongji was visiting. A Chinese diplomat stationed in Paris threatened a Hong Kong journalist who sought opinion from Mr. Zhu who met local protest over human rights. The incident was filmed and broadcast in Hong Kong. In connection with the incident, Chinese Foreign Ministry called this incident an unusual case and confirmed that China respects freedom of speech. This incident reveal the difficulty of understanding free media concept observed in the West. It will take long time for media freedom to be understood by low-level Chinese bureaucrats, Yomiuri Shimbun reported.(11)
Apology to media from the high-ranking Chinese official is the first time. Zhu intends to save the image of reform. Hong Kong media gave high mark to the move, saying it is advancement China admitted the wrongdoing. However, this incident has not reported at all, Sankei Shimbun reported. (12)
