(Policy Address 2025) HK to boost local media's global reach to tell HK’s good stories, says John Lee

Chief Executive John Lee has announced a new initiative to support local media organizations in expanding their international networks, framing it as a key part of the strategy to "tell good Hong Kong stories" to the world.

The measure was unveiled in his latest Policy Address as a means to bolster the city's global narrative.

Praising the performance of the local media sector, the Hong Kong leader said Hong Kong’s media organisations are "excellent and worthy of promotion." He acknowledged, however, that they face multifaceted operational pressures, similar to the business community.

The government’s role, he explained, will be to assist professional local media in expanding their market reach overseas. "I think our media are professional enough to impress their partners overseas," Lee noted.

He said local media already possess established networks with domestic and international outlets, and by strengthening these connections, they can more effectively share positive narratives about the city and telling the "good and true" Hong Kong stories.

Lee stressed that the objective is to create more opportunities and open up business prospects for local media, not to interfere with their operations.

He expressed strong confidence in the sector's professionalism, in which he believes media organisations will use their high standards to build overseas partnerships and present Hong Kong’s strengths to a global audience through their own editorial judgement.

(Marco Lam)