In Hong Kong, the radio station, funded by the American government, Radio Free Asia has just announced that it is closing its offices and leaving the city, following the entry into force last Saturday of Article 23, a new national security law.
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The Director General of Radio Free Asia (RFA), Bay Fang, writes our correspondent to Hong Kong, Florence de Changy, announced its decision to close its Hong Kong office following statements from the authorities who had described this channel as “ foreign force “, casting doubt on “ the capacity of the station to operate safely since the entry into force of article 23 “. In a press release, Bay Fang mentions “ concerns about safety of staff members and journalists »
The RFA radio station, funded by the American Congress and headquartered in Washington, opened its office in Hong Kong almost thirty years ago, but had already relocated some of its employees to Taiwan. Radio Free Asia is the first media outlet to leave Hong Kong following the promulgation of Article 23.
The State Department takes action »
But the first national security law, imposed by China in 2020, had already closed several opposition media including the Apple Daily. Recently the BBC, the Guardian and the Wall Street Journal have been roundly criticized by the authorities for their treatment of this new law. The government was also quick to condemn this decision by RFA, which it described as “ alarmist “.
For his part, and in response to “ the intensification of repression » and the restrictions imposed on “ civil society, the media and dissident voices “, the State Department ” takes steps to impose new visa restrictions on several Hong Kong officials », Announced, Friday March 29, American Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
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