The U.S. State Department condemned the Hong Kong government for its recent arrest of a local journalist over charges of producing seditious content, underlining that the city’s status as a financial center depends on the free flow of information.
Yesterday, national security police in Hong Kong arrested 54-year old journalist Allan Au over charges of conspiracy to publish seditious material, according to multiple local media reports.
A U.S. State Department spokesperson issued a statement in response to condemn the arrest.
«Hong Kong’s position as a free, global financial center depends on the free flow of information and opinions,» said State Department spokesman Ned Price in a social media post.
Allan Au
Au is a renowned journalist in Hong Kong, having worked for various major media firms including TVB News as a senior producer and government-owned RTHK where he was fired in June last year as part of an editorial overhaul directed by local authorities.
He is a columnist for various media outlets including Stand News – a local pro-democracy digital news firm that folded in December last year following a police raid and arrest of seven people. The arrest would result in an acting and former chief editor being arrested and charged for conspiring to publish seditious materials.
Au is also a Chinese University professional consultant at the School of Journalism where he specialized in «media censorship and self-censorship», according to the university’s website.
Free Press
In response to reporters yesterday morning, local authorities claimed that free press and speech, as protected by the Basic law – Hong Kong’s de facto constitution – have not been affected.
«There has not been a change in its wording,» said Hong Kong chief executive hopeful John Lee on the Basic Law, adding that freedoms will be «sufficiently guaranteed» if people stay within the legal framework.
«Journalism is not a crime,» added Price who called for the government to also free «others imprisoned for exercising their fundamental freedoms».
