The Hong Kong Journalists Association has withdrawn its application for judicial review against the government’s bar of online-only media from its press events and information dissemination system.

This follows the administration’s September decision to lift the bar, allowing those media to register for access to its press functions and information release system. The Association and the Government have consented to the withdrawal, pending a court order. 

In the past month, a total of eight online new platforms have been accredited. Among them are AASTOCKS.com, Bastille Post, Citizen News, Hong Kong Free Press, on.cc, Speak Out HK, the Stand News and Truth Media Hong Kong.

The Association will continue to monitor the government’s policy towards online media in particular whether there is any systematic discrimination against those media in the by-invitation press events.

The media, regardless of the medium of their delivery, should be given fair access to government information to uphold the press and speech freedom promised in the Basic Law.

Hong Kong Journalists Association
13 Nov 2017