Citizen News and Stand News shut on their own: Carrie Lam

Law enforcers did not approach Citizen News, and the online media made its own decision to shut down, Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said on Tuesday.

Citizen News closed on Tuesday, less than a week after Stand News folded last Wednesday. The later announced its immediate closure after police arrested seven people for conspiring to publish seditious content and froze its assets. 

Speaking before Executive Council meeting on Tuesday, Lam said the decision to close was made by the two media outlets themselves and cannot be linked directly to freedom of the press. 

Law enforcers did not reach out to Citizen News and “never did anything” against it, she said. 

If the outlet decided to cease operations due to worries, it happens all the time in the commercial world, she said. 

The prosecution of Stand News demonstrated rule of law, not suppression of freedom of the press, she added. 

As for whether chilling effect is at play, Lam said she cannot comment on behalf of the people in charge of the two outlets. She objected that the national security law eliminated press freedom, saying similar but stricter laws can be found in overseas countries. 

Earlier on Monday night, Citizen News broadcast its last show before closure. 

The program reported lawmakers being sworn in and reviewed Citizen News' five years of operation. 

Chief writer Chris Yeung Kin-hing said dark days would pass and hoped everyone take care. 

Speaking to the press after, Yeung said influential people wrote commentaries naming Citizen News as one of the online outlets which must be cracked down. 

“Reporters are people too, and we too have families and friends. Under this unsafe environment, everyone has to take the situation seriously. No news professionals would want to be prosecuted because of work,” said Yueng, choking back on tears. 

At an earlier press conference on Monday, Yeung said the decision to shut down was reached within a short time and that "the trigger point was the fate of Stand News."

"Hong Kong media has been drawn into the political waves, with two members of the Stand News' management being charged with sedition," Yeung said.

"We are completely unable to see clearly the lines of law enforcement and we are worried that we will breach the law."

"As we can no longer work under a safe environment, ceasing operation is the only option that we can make."

Hong Kong Journalists Association said it was deeply saddened by the suspension of two media outlets within a week, and urged the government to ensure the protection of press freedom under the Basic Law. 

Secretary for Home Affairs Caspar Tsui Ying-wai reiterated that the Basic Law protects the freedom of the press.