Press freedom in Hong Kong hits two-decade low: report

The city dropped to 140th place in the 2025 World Press Freedom Index.

Hong Kong’s media environment continues to face significant strain, with declining press freedom, legal challenges, and economic pressures reshaping the local news industry, according to the Digital News Report 2025 by the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism.

The city, once ranked 18th globally for press freedom in 2002, has dropped to 140th place in the 2025 World Press Freedom Index.

The decline follows the enactment of the National Security Law in 2020 and the introduction of Article 23 legislation in 2024, both of which have contributed to heightened caution amongst journalists and the closure of several independent outlets.

In a high-profile case, former Stand News Editor-in-Chief Chung Pui-kuen was sentenced to 21 months in prison under a colonial-era sedition law for publishing 11 opinion articles during 2020–21, nine of which were critical of local or Chinese authorities. This marked the first use of the law in over half a century.

The legal climate has led to the departure of international media. Radio Free Asia ended its presence in Hong Kong after nearly three decades, and The Wall Street Journal relocated its Asia headquarters to Singapore.

Despite these challenges, courts have at times ruled in favour of media organisations. The Court of Appeal dismissed an appeal by the Communications Authority regarding a 2020 warning issued to RTHK over satirical content, affirming that accuracy standards do not apply to satire.

Financial constraints are also reshaping the industry. Local broadcaster TVB reduced its annual losses by over 50% in 2024, largely through expanded operations in mainland China.

TVB signed partnerships with Tencent Video and Youku to co-produce and distribute content. Meanwhile, digital platform HK01 has diversified into e-commerce and ticketing to boost revenue. However, smaller online outlets continue to face sustainability issues.

Public broadcaster RTHK is exploring artificial intelligence in its operations. In 2023, it introduced an AI weather presenter named “Aida,” and in 2024, launched an AI Lab to support program production, including health and sports content.

The report noted that 86% of Hong Kong residents access news online, with Facebook (46%) and YouTube (44%) being the most common platforms.

Trust in news remains relatively high, with 52% of respondents saying they trust most news most of the time, up from 42% in 2017. RTHK and NowTV News are amongst the most trusted brands, with 71% of respondents rating them positively.

News consumption habits show stability, with TV still a key source alongside digital platforms. Around 22% of respondents report paying for online news, while 40% share news through social media or messaging apps.