Trending 
Hong Kong’s security chief Chris Tang has warned the city’s journalists’ union against activities he said could threaten national security, a day before the organisation’s committee elections.
The warning came as the Hong Kong Journalists Association (HKJA), one of the city’s last remaining groups advocating for media rights, prepares to elect new leaders after growing pressure from authorities.
The HKJA’s leadership election was postponed from June because of a lack of candidates.
Speaking at a media briefing on Friday, Tang cautioned against organisations using the title of a union to pursue activities unrelated to their legitimate functions.
He warned that anyone involved in activities deemed to endanger national security, cooperate with foreign forces or undermine state power would face consequences.
“I want to warn everyone: regardless of the name or guise you adopt, if you seek to endanger national security, collude with foreign forces, or subvert state power, I can assure you that I will nail you, and you will bear the consequences,” he said.
Hong Kong’s press freedom ranking has fallen sharply since Beijing imposed a sweeping national security law in 2020 following mass pro-democracy protests in 2019. The city has since introduced its own national security legislation.
Critics say the laws have been used to suppress dissent and restrict civil liberties.
Hong Kong was once home to a vibrant and independent media sector, including the pro-democracy Apple Daily newspaper and its founder Jimmy Lai. Many outlets have since closed, while Lai was sentenced to 20 years in prison in December for offences including collusion with foreign forces and seditious publication.
Founded in 1968, the HKJA is the city’s longest-established journalists’ organisation.
The postponed election has also drawn criticism from pro-Beijing media. An editorial in Ta Kung Pao, which is affiliated with Beijing’s liaison office, accused the association of losing its representativeness and becoming a platform for forces seeking to destabilise Hong Kong.
Tang also questioned the election process, saying all the candidates were employed by foreign or online media outlets and raising concerns over what he described as possible “black-box dealings” because their names had not been published.
HKJA interim chair Selina Cheng said the names had not been made public because board members had faced intense harassment campaigns in recent years, including during the current election.
She said the association had continued to submit information about its board to the union registry as required by law.
