Sometime last month, a curious disclaimer began appearing at the bottom of every opinion page article published in Ming Pao, one of Hong Kong’s most iconic and widely read newspapers. The newspaper, the disclaimer said, had “no intention to incite hatred, discontent, or hostility against the government or other sections of the population”.
The reason for the move was fairly obvious. In the past year, Hong Kong’s most outspoken media outlets have collapsed like dominoes in the wake of the passing of a new national security law that lists stiff penalties for “subversion” and other offences. In June last year, the widely read tabloid Apple Daily ceased publication after its founder was jailed, its offices were raided and its senior staff were arrested.
