Hong Kong Government Rejects Press Freedom Criticism After Jimmy Lai Awarded German Prize

Hong Kong's government issued a statement on Friday rejecting claims of a crackdown on press freedom as slander, following the awarding of a free speech prize to jailed media tycoon Jimmy Lai in Germany. The government accused an anti-China organization of attempting to sugarcoat the criminal acts of Jimmy Lai in its Friday statement.

Authorities also dismissed Reporters Without Borders' latest Press Freedom Index as biased.

Jimmy Lai, 78 years old and imprisoned since 2020, was awarded the Freedom of Speech Prize by Germany's Deutsche Welle on Thursday. The award was given in absentia, and Lai was sentenced to 20 years in prison earlier this year under national security charges. Reporters Without Borders' Press Freedom Index ranks Hong Kong 140th globally, down from 18th when the index was first published in 2002.

Taiwan ranks 28th out of 180 countries, South Korea ranks 47th, and Japan ranks 62nd in the index. France 24 reported that RSF revealed earlier this week that French journalist Antoine Vedeilhe was denied entry to Hong Kong, detained at the airport, and deported back to Paris.

Vedeilhe, a former FRANCE 24 China correspondent now working on a documentary for France Télévisions, has reported across Asia for nearly a decade and covered Hong Kong extensively since 2016, including the 2019 pro-democracy protests.

Vedeilhe was stopped at passport control in Hong Kong in November 2025 and escorted directly to a flight back to Paris. Hong Kong immigration authorities provided no explanation or documents for his deportation. Through sources in Hong Kong's immigration department, Vedeilhe was told he was flagged as a foreign agent.

The day after his deportation, his employer received an anonymous email warning against broadcasting his documentary 'Hong Kong ne répond plus,' which examines Hong Kong's political transformation under Beijing's tightening control. Vedeilhe's cameraman was allowed entry to Hong Kong but was followed by plainclothes officers from the moment he arrived at his hotel.

Fearing for the safety of sources, Vedeilhe's team cancelled all planned interviews.

At least 13 journalists have been denied visas, refused renewals, or barred from entering Hong Kong in recent years, according to Aleksandra Bielakowska. At least eight journalists are currently imprisoned in Hong Kong, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists. Beijing imposed the National Security Law in Hong Kong in June 2020, following mass pro-democracy protests in 2019.

Police raided Apple Daily and arrested Jimmy Lai two months after the National Security Law in August 2020. Independent media outlets Apple Daily, Stand News, and Citizen News have shut down.

Dozens of journalists have been arrested, prosecuted, or forced into exile in Hong Kong. Article 23 of Hong Kong's domestic national security legislation allows sedition charges carrying up to 10 years in prison for publishing false or misleading statements.