The Stand News editor-in-chief is brought into a vehicle on December 29, 2021 in Hong Kong, China.Photo: VCG

The closure of several Hong Kong online media outlets triggered criticism from some Western media over a so-called deteriorating or eroding freedom of the press in the city, which was refuted by Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) officials and observers, as the fate of two online media - Stand News and Hong Kong Citizen News - has nothing to do with press freedom, and anti-China forces challenging the bottom line of the rule of law of Hong Kong in the name of press freedom must be held accountable. 

Citizen News stopped operating on Tuesday. The decision was made following the shutdown of another online site, Stand News, after some of the latter's senior staff were arrested for colluding to publish seditious materials. However, the decision by Citizen News was interpreted as an "erosion of press freedom" in Hong Kong by some Western officials and observers, who used the news as a tool to slander the national security law for Hong Kong. 

Nabila Massrali, EU Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, said in a tweet on Tuesday that the closure of Citizen News is "yet another regrettable example of the deteriorating environment for independent media in Hong Kong." Other anti-China figures such as China hawk UK politician Luke de Pulford and Benedict Rogers from Hong Kong Watch also distorted the matter by saying the so-called independent media in Hong Kong were "muted" by the central government, echoing some similar tones set by Western media like the New York Times. 

The closure of Stand News and Hong Kong Citizen News has nothing to do with press freedom in Hong Kong, Carrie Lam, HKSAR Chief Executive, told a daily briefing on Tuesday.

Local authorities are open to all media outlets. As long as they are not engaged in illegal activities, media can continue reporting in Hong Kong, Lam said. 

Hong Kong is a city of law and order. Freedom of expression is secured and guaranteed, only in a way when one complies with all laws and regulations, Chu Kar-kin, a member of the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macao Studies and a Hong Kong-based veteran current affairs commentator, told the Global Times on Tuesday. 

"The signal is clear. Offensive and fake propaganda should be stopped and agencies with malicious intent should be terminated," he said, as the ecosystem in Hong Kong has changed in which only media abiding by the law can continue and survive. 

Following the shutdown of Stand News and Citizen News, some observers wondered if the Hong Kong Journalists Association (HKJA) would be further regulated as some considered it as playing a role of instigating anti-China sentiment and defying the leadership of the Communist Party of China in challenging the rule of law in Hong Kong during the social turmoil in 2019. 

Many of the HKJA members are from anti-China media outlets but they have been relatively careful in their remarks recently, Lau Siu-kai, vice-president of the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macao Studies, told the Global Times on Tuesday. 

"It may take more time to observe whether its remarks cross the redline," Lau said, noting that as some anti-China and anti-CPC media come to an end, the association's power has been largely shrinking and the possibility of its disbandment can't be ruled out. 

Another online media, Mad Dog Daily, which was not widely known and founded by former legislator Wong Yuk-man, ceased to operate on Tuesday, citing reasons such as"protection of the staff." However, some experts said that the past publications of the online site have been highly inflammatory, reflecting its "guilty conscience." 

"A shutdown or disbandment would not help the site management team escape from legal accountability if there is evidence that its acts violated the law," Chu said.