Open Letter to Carrie Lam

Mrs Carrie Lam, GBM, GBS
Office of the Chief Executive
Tamar
HONG KONG


Ian Williams
President, Foreign Press Association USA
1501 Broadway, 12th Floor, New York, NY 10036
www.foreignpressassociation.org                           
Ian.williams@foreignpressassociation.org
+1 917 362 1477      ​


Open Letter to Carrie Lam GBM, GBS, Chief Executive of Hong Kong,

Many members of the press based in New York have visited Hong Kong and appreciated its role as an enclave of press freedom. The vibrancy of the local Hong Kong media and of other based there has been a model and has played a key role in thriving economy of the special region.

Your collaboration with the Central Government’s repressive over-riding of the fundamental principle of One Country Two Systems is not just an affront to the Sino British Treaty, it is an assault on the human rights and press freedoms of the people of Hong Kong and the media community it has hitherto fostered.

“It is not just a crime – it is a mistake,” as Napoleon was warned.
That freedom of information has served Hong Kong as a financial and commercial center, since investors rely on transparency. It has also hitherto benefited the mainland since the ability of the media in Hong Kong to report on other, less transparent, financial centers has been a factor in decisions to invest in China.

The Foreign Press Association of the USA, will do whatever it can to support our media colleagues in Hong Kong.

Ian Williams
President, Foreign Press Association and Foundation