Hong Kong (AFP)

The New York Times announced on Wednesday its move to move its digital service from Hong Kong to Seoul after the entry into force of the draconian national security law imposed on the territory by Beijing.

This is the first major relocation of an international media since the promulgation at the end of June of this legislative text which increases the authority of China over Hong Kong.

In an email to staff, management at the New York Times explained that the law "has created a lot of uncertainty about the impact the new rules will have on our journalistic activity and how we operate."

"We believe it is more prudent to have a back-up plan and to start moving our editorial staff to the region," added management.

The New York Times has had its regional headquarters in Hong Kong for decades, covering news in Asia and, more recently, assisting in the production of the newspaper's continuous digital content, in collaboration with the London and London offices. New York.

In an article devoted to this relocation, the Times specified that the employees working for its digital service, or one third of its workforce in Hong Kong, will move next year.

- Regional media center -

The title explained, moreover, that it recently "encountered difficulties in obtaining work permits" for its Hong Kong personnel, which is so far "common in China but rarely the case in the British ex-colony" .

Earlier this year, China expelled several journalists working for American media, including the New York Times, in retaliatory measures against Washington. Some of them have been relocated to Seoul.

For decades, Hong Kong has been the regional center for many foreign media outlets covering news in Asia, including freedom of expression there under the 1997 Sino-British handover agreement.

Besides the New York Times, international media such as AFP, CNN, The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg and The Financial Times also have major regional centers in Hong Kong.

The content of the new security law, which is very vague, leaves a lot of room for interpretation and has given rise to a climate of fear throughout the territory where the inhabitants are used to express themselves freely.

One of its intimate provisions is for the authorities to "strengthen the management" of the international media.

The local government of Hong Kong, which meets Beijing's requirements, has been reluctant to defend the media and, in recent years, the territory has gone down in the world press freedom ranking.

The authorities are currently reviewing RTHK, the independent but state-funded audiovisual group, accused in particular of having provided too favorable coverage last year to the pro-democracy protests that rocked Hong Kong. The group rejects these accusations.

- Requests for clarification -

Obtaining visas for foreign journalists has started to come under political pressure.

In 2018, a British journalist from the Financial Times, Victor Mallet, was refused the renewal of his press visa after inviting the founder of an independence party to a conference of the Club of Foreign Correspondents (FCC), an institution in the former British colony.

A few months ago, China expelled American journalists, and clarified that they would not be allowed to work in Hong Kong even if the territory is supposed to be the only master in immigration policy.

Earlier this month, the FCC sent a letter to chief executive Carrie Lam, asking her to clarify the consequences of the new law as soon as possible for journalists working in Hong Kong.

At a press conference last week, a reporter asked Ms. Lam if she could "guarantee press freedom 100%".

"If the FCC or the Hong Kong journalists can 100% guarantee that they will not violate this national law, then I can do it," said Ms. Lam.

© 2020 AFP