Why is local news quitting Hong Kong for Singapore? | ticker VIEWS

In a media first, a Hong Kong news outlet is quitting the city and relocating to Singapore, due to the erosion of press freedom in the financial hub

Hong Kong used to be considered a bastion of press freedom in Asia

However, that’s not the case anymore.

The city’s last pro-democracy newspaper, Apple Daily was forced to close – due to political pressure.

Now an online news outlet is relocating amid the tension.

Initium media will become the first local outlet to quit Hong Kong

The Chinese-language outlet, which has 60,000 paying subscribers, was founded six years ago

Its executive editor announcing the move to readers, promising to “continue to present the pulse of the times in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan in our in-depth content.”

Susie Wu says “over the past six years, the road to freedom has become tougher and more dangerous, the world is increasingly polarised and antagonistic”

She says “…no matter where we are, as long as the freedom in our hearts is connected, we can create larger space for freedom”

Meanwhile a veteran broadcaster – Steve Vines confirming this week – he has left the financial hub.

He says the “white terror sweeping through Hong Kong is far from over”.