Radio Free Asia, a United States-funded news service, has announced the closure of its office in Hong Kong due to concerns about the city’s recently enacted national security law targeting foreign interference. The broadcaster’s president and chief executive, Bay Fang, cited safety concerns as the reason for the closure, stating that the new law raised serious questions about their ability to operate safely in Hong Kong.
The Chinese authorities have long accused Radio Free Asia of being a front for the U.S. government, and recent references to the news organization as a “foreign force” in Hong Kong further escalated tensions. The national security law, passed with unusual speed in March, grants authorities more power to investigate offenses such as external interference and the theft of state secrets.
Critics of the law argue that it significantly raises the risks for journalists operating in Hong Kong, as its vague definition of external interference can be broadly applied to regular journalistic work. The city’s status as a vibrant hub of free and independent media has eroded since Beijing imposed a crackdown in response to antigovernment protests in 2019.
The closure of Radio Free Asia’s office adds to a series of crackdowns on media outlets in Hong Kong, including the forced closure of Apple Daily, Stand News, and Citizen News. Prominent figures like Jimmy Lai, founder of Apple Daily, are currently on trial on national security charges, further stifling dissent in the city.
Despite the challenges, Radio Free Asia remains committed to covering Hong Kong remotely and denies serving as a proxy for Washington. The news outlet’s audience for content in Cantonese has grown sharply following the closures of other local media outlets, highlighting the importance of independent journalism in the region.
The move by Radio Free Asia underscores the increasing pressure on journalists in Hong Kong to self-censor and navigate the government’s “blurry red lines” to avoid repercussions. As concerns about press freedom continue to mount, the future of independent journalism in Hong Kong remains uncertain.
