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The Hong Kong Journalists Association’s annual press freedom index has reached a new low for a fourth consecutive year, with journalists reflecting that they are hesitant in criticizing the central government.

Based on a survey of 249 people in the media industry the HKJA recorded a drop from 26.2 in the previous year to 25.7 in 2022 in Hong Kong’s press freedom index - the fourth consecutive year the index had fallen.

While a ranking rated by some 1,000 members of the public also went down to 41.4 from 42 in the previous year.

Announcing the rankings, the HKJA said media workers have reflected that the reason for the decline was largely due to self-censorship and hesitation related to criticism of Beijing and the SAR government.

It also noted that the prosecution of Apple Daily and Stand News staff over national security offences and collusion charges, along with officials openly criticizing a Ming Pao comic strip by a political cartoonist, were key factors contributing to the decline.

The journalist group said the news industry's “winter” continued last year and shows no sign of dissipating, and that Hong Kong has no place for critical voices.

It worried that the public could only gain access to stories providing only one side of an issue under such a chilling effect.

Hong Kong press freedom index hits new low as media workers hesitate to criticize regime