On Wednesday, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) reported that Hong Kong authorities detained and subsequently deported their representative, Aleksandra Bielakowska. Ms. Bielakowska, who was supposed to monitor the trial of Jimmy Lai, founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily, was detained for six hours.
Bielakowska underwent three searches during her detainment, according to the RSF. The authorities issued a notice of detention, with the document indicating her deportation from Hong Kong was imminent. Notably, this was not the first time RSF had sent representatives to the region. Previously, they successfully sent team members to Hong Kong in June and December of 2023 to monitor Lai’s trial. However, their recent encounter indicates a more aggressive stance from Hong Kong authorities.
Rebecca Vincent, RSF’s Director of Campaign, stated her organization had never seen such aggressive efforts to avoid scrutiny of court proceedings by authorities. She regarded the deportation as a glaring sign of a profound erosion of press freedom. At the time of writing, the Hong Kong government has not offered any response to this statement.
It is essential to point out RSF’s significant joint statement from May 2023. The document, signed by senior editors, editors-in-chief, and publishers from 42 countries, called for the immediate release of Jimmy Lai and the reinstatement of independent media. The media coalition maintained that Lai and Apple Daily had provided vital independent information to the Hong Kong public. The forced closure of independent news outlets, including Apple Daily and Stand News, was highlighted as significant blows to media freedom in Hong Kong.
In defense, the Hong Kong government rejected these allegations, asserting that RSF’s remarks were an interference with local judicial proceedings and undermined the rule of law. It reaffirmed that the principles of press freedom, independent judicial power, and the right to a fair trial are safeguarded under the Hong Kong Basic Law, the Hong Kong Bill of Rights, and the 2020 National Security Law.
Jimmy Lai has been in detention since December 2020, serving nearly six years on fraud charges. He is also facing allegations of conspiring to collude with foreign forces under the 2020 National Security Law and of publishing seditious materials under the Crimes Ordinance.