Hong Kong's FCC Suspends Annual Asian Human Rights Press Awards

According to a statement from the Hong Kong's Foreign Correspondents' Club, it has suspended its annual Human Rights Press Awards to avoid "unintentionally" violating laws.

Implemented for more than a quarter, the cancellation of Asia's most prestigious award is the latest blow to media freedom after the introduction of the National Security Law to bring the ex-British colony in 2020 into line with the rest of China. 

Richburg had previously told the club's press freedom committee that a decision was made to protect its staff and members from legal risks, according to the minutes of the meeting.

On its handover from the United Kingdom to Chinese rule in 1997, Hong Kong was provided a high degree of autonomy and freedom not found in mainland China, such as freedom of speech and freedom of the press, as part of the "one country, two systems" agreement.

Advocates and some western governments have escalated crackdowns under the National Security Law, which led to the dissolution of civil society groups, the arrest or expulsion of democratic activists, and the closure of the press, as authorities trampled on these freedoms.