【Yahoo News·Return 25 Series Report】On the evening of June 30, 1997, it was raining heavily. Yang Jianxing, then political editor of the South China Morning Post, rushed to the Wanchai Convention and Exhibition to interview the handover ceremony of the return. The next day, the front page of the July 1 newspaper of “Southern Morning” and even an exclusive interview with then-Hong Kong Governor Patten, were all directed by Yang. “The boss didn’t talk to me about the main points. I asked myself what I asked, did some samples, and wrote from the perspective.”
In retrospect, Yang Jianxing said with a smile that the freedom of the press once “falls out of the bag”. At that time, “I did what I had to do, while thinking about freedom of the press.” In the 38 years he has been in the business, he has witnessed the most free time in the press before the return, and the situation has turned sharply in the past ten years. During Yang’s four-year tenure as chairman of the Journalists’ Association, protests against the amendments caused several news organizations to cease operations, including the “Zhongxin” which he co-founded.
Over the mountains and valleys, the senior journalist never gave up. He appealed to colleagues in the industry to light candles together to illuminate the dark road ahead. “Although it will not be turned into an environment, at least it will not be dead silent.”
Text reporter: Xie Xinyi
Photojournalist: HH
In the 1980s and 1990s, Yang Jianxing worked for the South China Morning Post, and during the drafting of the Basic Law, he visited the mainland from time to time for interviews. Knowing that Hong Kong’s media practices are different from those in the mainland, everyone “speaks and speaks”, and reporters can even talk directly to Beijing officials visiting Hong Kong at close range. Yang received a call from Patten’s press secretary Kerry McGylnn on his first day as the political editor of “Southern Morning” in 1993. Since then, the two have spoken on the phone almost every day, but the other party will not put pressure on them. He wants to know if we can watch the big news, and I also really want to know how they can watch it.”
On the night of the handover ceremony, Yang Jianxing only remembered that the then Chief Secretary Chen Fang Ansheng in red was standing in the center of the stage, “I saw a red grain and buried two national flags.” He pointed out that journalists are worried about the future, but they are not worried about losing news or even personal freedom.
Commentary questioning the system of accountability business people reminded: “sharp”
In the early days of his return, Yang Jianxing described the press as enjoying a short honeymoon period. Until the millennium, he questioned the accountability system in newspaper comments, and some business people who were familiar with the government said to him, “Your recent writing seems to be sharp.” Yang also addressed the then Chief Executive Tung Chee Hwa at the policy address press conference Asked about the accountability system, Dong said in the first sentence: “Chris, I know that you have different views on the accountability system…” In the same year, the Hong Kong University polling turmoil occurred. It is consistent with the fact that when there is a problem with the governance of the SAR government, it starts to pay attention to public opinion and media reports.”
When Donald Tsang came to power, Yang described him as good at building a good relationship with the media. “Sometimes when he has an opinion on a certain report, he just laughs and doesn’t do anything special.” However, in 2009, he felt the space to write comments. It gradually narrowed, so he left “Southern Morning”, and soon transferred to “Xinbao” to manage the English financial website.
In 2014, there is an undercurrent of “knowing that the wind will hit”
Until about ten years ago, Yang Jianxing really felt the change of the situation. With the outbreak of anti-state religion turmoil and the Umbrella Movement one after another, and the attack on Liu Jintu, the former editor-in-chief of Ming Pao in 2014, “I can clearly see that the working environment of the media may have undergone great changes.” When a group of senior media people took turns to visit Liu, they talked about personnel changes in a newspaper office, and a certain organization was advised not to visit certain people, “It may not be a good idea to pick up an old boy, but if you accumulate it, you can put it together into a picture. I know the wind will blow.”
He agrees with some old experts that mainstream media is becoming more and more difficult to do, and it is better to strive for more space in other fields. On New Year’s Day in 2017, he announced the establishment of “Zhongxin” with senior media people such as Li Yuehua and Jiang Guoyuan. In the same year, he became the chairman of the Journalists Association. “Everyone felt that the rain was about to come, but it was really raining. It turned out to be an exaggeration.”
In 2019, anti-revision demonstrations broke out, and there were scenes of police officers using strong lights, foul language and even waving batons against reporters. In May of the following year, the media filmed police officers ordering a large number of reporters to crouch down and spray pepper spray at close range. After the incident, the then Police Commissioner, Deng Bingqiang, met with organizations such as the Journalists Association. After that, the State Security Department searched the “Apple Daily” building twice, many high-level executives were arrested, and “Apple” was suspended. Half a year later, “Stand News” followed suit, and “Zhongxin” also bid farewell to readers.
Yang pointed out that the changes in the past two years have also included tightening restrictions on book searches. Officials and established media have repeatedly criticized the Hong Kong Journalists Association by name, and many electronic media have “big earthquakes.” Today, but the family really saw it.” Five years ago on July 1, President Xi Jinping visited Hong Kong, and the Police Public Relations Division met with the Journalists Association and the photographers to discuss interview arrangements. There was also a reception to celebrate the handover this year. The police did not meet again, and many media outlets were turned away. Hong Kong’s Reporters Without Borders’ Press Freedom Index dropped from 18th 20 years ago to 148th this year.
Be more careful with your YouTube channel comments
After the outage of “Zhong”, Yang Shen found out after digesting that, instead of sitting still, it is better to find a position to do something within his power. He set up a YouTube channel for commenting on current affairs a few months ago, but his comments are more cautious. Independent journalist and self-media platform like Chun Xun after the rain, “Do it yourself, it won’t turn around and change into a whole environment, but at least it won’t be dead.”
At the Annual Dinner of the Hong Kong Journalists Association at the end of last year, Yang Jianxing gave a speech in English to encourage colleagues in the industry: “In the darkest, confused and helpless times, it is also the time when we most need to uphold professional ethics, embrace hope, and continue to shine.” It’s the 25th anniversary of the return, and he still believes so.
【Yahoo News, Comeback 25 Series Report】
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