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FCC Statement on Results of FCC’s Press Freedom Survey 2025

An anonymous survey of the FCC’s Correspondent and Journalist members reflects the damaged sentiment that many working journalists in Hong Kong are facing.

The results of the survey, the third that the FCC has conducted in the last four years, raise concerns about the working environment that our members and others in the media industry face.

Of the 69 respondents, 43 (62%) said that their working environment as a journalist in Hong Kong had changed for the worse since July 2023, the time of the last press freedom survey. The National Security Law, its related trials, and the perceived exodus of international news organisations were mentioned as reasons for the change.

Respondents also noted that their sources have become more concerned about sharing their own opinions, with 44 (64%) saying that their sources are less willing to be quoted or discuss sensitive subjects.

Journalists are cautious about their own writing as well, with 45 (65%) saying they had self-censored in the last 18 months, and 12 (18%) saying they had self-censored “considerably”.

Ten respondents (16%) reported facing minor interference in their reporting, and one noted significant interference.

The perception of the media environment is also noteworthy, with four people (6%) saying they are “very concerned,” and 36 people (52%) being “slightly concerned” about the possibility of arrest or prosecution over their reporting or opinion articles or work they have edited.

While only one person reported experiencing digital surveillance and two reported physical surveillance, 62 (90%) said they were concerned about digital and physical surveillance.

The FCC supports journalists’ fundamental right to conduct their work freely and without fear of intimidation or harassment.

We will continue our proactive engagement with relevant authorities to safeguard press freedom in the city in order to make sure that Hong Kong remains a thriving hub for journalism and business in the region.

Read the full results of the survey in the latest edition of the club’s magazine, The Correspondent.

Nominees for the Election of the Board of Governors 2025-2026

Dear Members,

Here are the nominations for the FCC Board of Governors 2025-2026. Below are links to each nominee’s bio and policy statement. Please read them before voting.

Notes:    
  a. Please indicate your vote by putting a “✓” in the appropriate bracket. Any mark other than a “✓” shall invalidate this Ballot paper.  
  b. If vote(s) casted exceed(s) the number allowed in respective capacity, this Ballot paper shall be invalid.  
  c. Bio & policy statements of the candidates are available at the FCC website <www.fcchk.org>.  
  d. The completed Ballot paper must be received by the Club, either by mail or in the Ballot box, not later than 3pm on Thursday, 22 May 2025.  
     

CANDIDATES


PRESIDENT
(The position of President can be voted by Correspondent members only)
(Vote for not more than one)
1. Morgan DAVIS – IFR Asia
     

FIRST VICE PRESIDENT
(The position of First Vice President can be voted by Correspondent members only)
(Vote for not more than one)

2. Karen KOH – Freelance broadcast journalist
     

SECOND VICE PRESIDENT
(The position of Second Vice President can be voted by Correspondent, Journalist or Associate members)
(Vote for not more than one)

3. Tim HUXLEY – Mandarin Shipping
     

CORRESPONDENT MEMBER GOVERNORS
(The position of Correspondent Governor can be voted by Correspondent members only)
(Vote for not more than eight)

4. Jennifer JETT – NBC News
5. Kristie LU STOUT – CNN International
6. Connor MYCROFT – SCMP
7. Peter PARKS– AFP
8. Paul TAIT – Agence France-Presse
9. Laura WESTBROOK – Feature Story News
10. Lee WILLIAMSON – SCMP
11. Jing YANG – The Information
12. William ZHENG – SCMP
     

JOURNALIST MEMBER GOVERNORS
(The position of Journalist Governor can be voted by Correspondent or Journalist members)
(Vote for not more than two)

13. Zela CHIN – TVB
14. Joe PAN – Blockwind News | Hong Kong Baptist University, International Journalism Programme
     

ASSOCIATE MEMBER GOVERNORS
(The position of Associate Governor can be voted by Correspondent, Journalist or Associate members)
(Vote for not more than four)

15. CHAN Nap Kee Joseph – Oriental Patron Financial Group
16. CHEUNG Neo Ton Francis – Doctoral Exchange Group
17. Simon CONSTANTINIDES – Atrellus Business Services
18. LIU Kin-ming – KM & Associates
19. Alan Forbes MACDONALD – URBIS Limited
20. Lynne MULHOLLAND – The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels
21. Wing SHEK – FactSet
22. Christopher SLAUGHTER – Consultant
23. Barbara YU LARSSON – PAKT Limited

FCC Nomination for the Board of Governors 2025–2026

FCC Nomination for the Board of Governors
2025 – 2026
      
Dear Members,
The FCC Annual Nomination Meeting will be held on Wednesday, 9 April 2025 for the purpose of accepting oral nominations for the Board of Governors for the 2025 – 2026 Term.
Under the provisions of the Articles of Association, nominations may also be made in writing.
For those who wish to make a written nomination or nominations, please use the form(s) we are sending to you by mail or you can ask from the office. The written nominations should be delivered to the Club office, either in person or by registered letter, no later than 6pm on Wednesday, 9 April 2025.
Nominations are invited for the following positions:

A President who shall be a Correspondent Member. The nomination must be made and seconded by Correspondent Members.

A First Vice-President who shall be a Correspondent Member. The nomination must  be made and seconded by Correspondent Members.

A Second Vice-President who may be a Journalist Member or an Associate Member. The nominations may be made and seconded by Correspondent Members, Journalist Members or Associate Members.

Eight (8) Correspondent Member Governors who shall be Correspondent Members. The nominations must be made and seconded by Correspondent Members.

Two (2) Journalist Member Governors who shall be Journalist Members. The nominations may be made and seconded by Correspondent Members or Journalist Members.

Four (4) Associate Member Governors who shall be Associate Members. The nominations may be made and seconded by any Voting Member.

A Member being nominated does not mean that he or she is elected a Club Officer. An election by mail ballot will be held subsequently and the mail ballot papers together with a list of candidates accepted will be sent to all Members of the Club one week after the Nomination Meeting.
A candidate for election to the Board of Governors can accept nomination for only one position on the Board of Governors.
By order of the Board of Governors,
Lee Williamson
President

FCC statement on the repeated cancellation of HKJA’s fundraising dinner

The Foreign Correspondents’ Club, Hong Kong is concerned by the repeated cancellations of the Hong Kong Journalists Association’s (HKJA) annual fundraising gala by the host venues, and their implications for press freedom in the city.

HKJA is a non-profit organisation that advocates press freedom and supports journalists and journalism in Hong Kong.

If this trend of cancellations were to continue, it risks tarnishing Hong Kong’s image as an international business and financial centre.

FCC Statement on journalist Gerald Flynn’s Cambodian border entry denial 

The Foreign Correspondents’ Club, Hong Kong is urging Cambodian authorities to reverse their decision to deny re-entry to British journalist Gerald Flynn and to immediately facilitate his return to Cambodia so that he can continue to do his important work. 

Flynn, an investigative and environmental journalist, has lived and reported in Cambodia since 2019, and held a valid work permit and multiple-entry business visa. Despite this, he was denied re-entry to Cambodia on January 5 while returning from a brief visit to Thailand. Authorities alleged his visa was “fake,” but did not provide Flynn further details. Cambodian immigration officials also informed Flynn that he would never be allowed to return to Cambodia because he had been placed on a “blacklist” on November 25, 2024.

Flynn’s exclusion appears to have been an act of retaliation for appearing as a source in a France24 documentary three days earlier. The documentary questioned the efficacy of Cambodian carbon offsetting projects. Prior to appearing in the documentary, Flynn’s reporting had uncovered environmental crimes and the destruction of natural resources across the country, most recently for U.S. environmental news outlet Mongabay.

Since 2022, Cambodia has fallen nine places in the Reporters Without Borders World Press Freedom Index because of such heavy-handed intimidation and retaliation tactics. Cambodian journalist Mech Dara was jailed for almost a month last fall in an apparent attempt to silence one of the country’s most prominent reporters. His arrest followed the forced closure in 2023 of Voice of Democracy, the country’s leading independent media outlet, at which Dara had covered the troubling rise of industrial-scale scamming compounds across Cambodia.

The FCC supports all reporters’ right to cover stories without fear of harassment or arrest. We urge Cambodian authorities to reverse course and permit Gerald Flynn to re-enter the country.

FCC statement on the ongoing deterioration of media freedoms in Myanmar

Four years after the military seized power and ousted the democratically elected government in Myanmar, The Foreign Correspondents’ Club, Hong Kong continues to be alarmed and deeply concerned at the deteriorating conditions for journalists and media workers there.

Since February 2021, the military junta has cracked down on Myanmar’s media in an effort to silence any reporting critical of the junta and its actions. Regime authorities have revoked the operating licenses of independent news outlets, banned the use of satellite dishes and instituted a series of partial and complete internet shutdowns. 

Individual journalists have also been harassed, detained, tortured and sentenced to jail terms. According to the Independent Press Council Myanmar, as of 25 January 2025, 43 journalists/media workers are still imprisoned.  All were taken into custody on anti-state allegations and many were denied legal representation. 

The FCC reiterates its condemnation of the targeting, threatening, detention, torturing and killing of journalists and media workers. We call on the Myanmar military regime to cease violence, release all those unjustly detained, and to uphold freedom of expression, including the freedom to seek, receive and impart information.

Journalism is not a crime, and media workers should be allowed to carry out their work without fear of threats to their safety and well being.

The Foreign Correspondents’ Club Awards Clare Hollingworth Fellowships 2024

The Foreign Correspondents’ Club Awards
Clare Hollingworth Fellowships
 
 
FELLOWS
 
Kriti Gandhi
Kriti Gandhi is a freelance journalist and recent graduate of The University of Hong Kong, holding a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Marketing. She has worked with CNN and NBC News in the past and is currently a freelance associate video producer at the South China Morning Post.
 
Jay Ganglani
Jay Ganglani is a Hong Kong-based journalist with a passion for covering the city’s ethnic minority communities. His work has appeared in NBC News, Asia Sentinel, and the Standard. He holds a Master of Journalism degree from HKU.
 
The Foreign Correspondents’ Club, Hong Kong is pleased to announce that it has chosen Kriti Gandhi and Jay Ganglani as recipients of the sixth annual Clare Hollingworth Fellowship, named in honor of the preeminent and path-breaking journalist.
 
The panel of judges noted the winners offer clear potential as future leaders both within the FCC and in the wider Hong Kong journalism community.
 
The Fellowship is focused on early-career journalists and current journalism school students in Hong Kong.
 
The open competition drew significant interest from a cross spectrum of applicants. The adjudicators noted the high standard of applicants and encouraged all to apply again next year.
 
For further information on the Clare Hollingworth Fellowship, please visit https://www.fcchk.org/fcc-clare-hollingworth-fellowship-2024-2025-applications-open/
 
 
 
 

FCC Statement on Journalists and the One-Year Anniversary of the Israel-Hamas War

    
 
As the world marks the one-year anniversary of the Israel-Hamas war, the Foreign Correspondents’ Club, Hong Kong remembers the scores of journalists killed or injured in the ongoing conflict. The FCC calls on all parties to protect the journalists who are covering the war with great courage and under extremely difficult conditions.
 
Of the more than 42,000 people killed since the war began, at least 128 of them were journalists and media workers, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists (“CPJ”), making this the deadliest conflict for journalists since the group began gathering data in 1992. They include 123 Palestinians and three Lebanese, as well as two Israelis who were killed when the war began with Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist attack on Israel.
 
Though Israel denies targeting media workers, CPJ has concluded that at least five of the Palestinian and Lebanese journalists who were killed were directly targeted by Israeli forces in violation of international law.

The killings, along with censorship, arrests, internet disruptions, the blocking of independent media outlets from entering the Gaza Strip, the destruction of newsrooms and other media infrastructure, and the displacement of Gaza journalists and media workers, have severely hampered coverage of a war that threatens to spread across the region.

The Club expresses its deepest condolences to the colleagues and loved ones of the journalists and other innocent victims who have been killed, as well as the journalists whose families have been killed in the conflict they are covering.

The Club further calls on all parties to ensure the safety of journalists on the ground in Israel and Gaza. Journalists are civilians who should not be targeted, and their ability to freely and safely do their jobs is vital for understanding the conflict and working toward its end.

FCC statement on Cambodian journalist Mech Dara’s arrest

    
 
The Foreign Correspondents’ Club, Hong Kong is calling for the release of Mech Dara, a Cambodian investigative reporter who was arrested this week in an apparent attempt to silence one of the country’s leading journalists.
 
Dara was arrested by military police on Sept. 30 at a highway toll booth while driving with a relative to Phnom Penh. Officials initially said little about his arrest other than confirming his detention at an undisclosed location. On Tuesday, he was charged with criminal incitement over social media posts he made in September and sent to pretrial detention by a Phnom Penh court.
 
The court objected to photos Dara posted on social media showing contrasting images of quarrying activity at a revered mountain in southeastern Cambodia. Local officials denounced the post, said there was no excavation at the site, and accused him of inciting “social disorder,” which can be prosecuted under a criminal incitement statute often abused as a tool of intimidation and suppression.

Dara’s arrest follows last year’s forced closure of Cambodia’s leading independent media outlet, Voice of Democracy. Dara was a reporter for VOD, where he helped uncover the rise of cyber-scam compounds in Cambodia whose bosses often use slave labor to defraud people around the world. The reporting earned him international renown, including an award from the U.S. Department of State.

Cambodia’s use of such heavy-handed tactics to intimidate journalists and shutter news outlets has sharply curtailed independent news coverage and prompted the country to slide precipitously in global press freedom indexes. The FCC supports all reporters’ right to cover stories without fear of harassment or arrest and urges Cambodian authorities to release Dara from prison.

FCC statement on reports of journalist harassment

    
 
The Foreign Correspondents’ Club, Hong Kong is extremely concerned by reports that journalists in Hong Kong have been harassed and threatened online and offline because of their work.
 
The Hong Kong Journalists Association has reported that journalists, along with their family and associates, have been subjects of a targeted campaign of harassment in recent months. These bullying messages are illegal, and should be condemned not only for the violence they seek to inflict, but also for their threats to the freedom of the press as it is guaranteed as a fundamental right in Hong Kong.
 
We advocate for journalists’ right to continue to carry out their work unhindered, free of harassment and danger, and we stand in solidarity with all journalists in Hong Kong who seek to work and live in a safe environment.

We note that reports have been made to the authorities and ask that they urgently investigate these reported threats to ensure the safety of journalists working in the city.

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