Hong Kong's pro-democracy Citizen Radio aired its final broadcast June 30, with the founder citing the "dangerous" political environment. Tsang Kin-shing, a veteran political activist, wrote in the station's closing Facebook post [8] of difficulties faced since protest movements in the city in 2014 and 2019. Under the National Security Law imposed by the Chinese government in 2020, the station's bank account was "frozen," and consequently it could only afford rent for the studio through August. "We could do nothing but to stop the broadcasting," said Tsang at the end of the post.
In a studio press conference [9] before the final broadcast, Tsang told reporters of the growing obstacles the station faced. Tsang said: "If we invite guests, they may not be able to speak freely, because there are so many red lines."
Tsang started the Cantonese-language station in 2005. It operated without a license, as its application for a broadcast permit languished. Then, in 2016, Hong Kong's Office of the Communications Authority (OFCA) raided [11] the station for illegal radio transmissions. After that, Citizen Radio switched to an online platform [12], and gained a wide following.
From Jurist [13], July 3. Used with permission.
See our last report on the National Security Law [14].
