The Hong Kong Journalists Association was originally scheduled to hold a fundraising concert next Sunday (28th) for raising funds. However, on the 24th, it abruptly announced the cancellation “due to force majeure factors.” It is known that this decision was not due to reasons such as the venue, but rather, relevant parties directly made requests to the representatives of the Association, with no room for negotiation. HKJA Chairman Chen Lang Sheng, when interviewed by our reporter, admitted inconvenience in disclosing further details. He also expressed uncertainty about whether the online event would proceed smoothly. “However, I don’t want to waste the efforts of the performers,” he added. At present, the majority of tickets have been sold, with very few refund requests received.
Upon reviewing the poster details, the concert titled “Ephemeral Utopia” offered tickets priced at $500 and $800 for members, with non-members priced at a minimum of $1,500. Sales were reported to be very ideal, with tickets nearly sold out. The evening event was to include a charity auction, networking sessions, fine wines, and light snacks. However, the specific venue was not disclosed. The performing guests were described simply as “a group of musicians misled by the news, a few dream-chasing creators, and a journalist association journeying alongside everyone for 56 years.”
Yet, the HKJA recently posted on social media stating that the concert was canceled “in the final stage of preparation due to force majeure.” They also mentioned facing operational and financial difficulties and hoped to continue efforts for press freedom in Hong Kong. They appealed to ticket holders to support the online performance. The ticket purchase webpage indicated that they were currently only accepting donations, and those who had purchased tickets could apply for refunds by the following Tuesday (30th).
Chen Lang Sheng responded to the cancellation on social media, mentioning that the event was in the final stages of preparation, and they had put in their best efforts. He expressed disappointment in the outcome, stating, “In this world, putting in effort does not guarantee success.” He also mentioned not needing to publicly sing, considering it the best merit in this regretful situation, thanking the ticket-holding audience and those who supported the performance. Reflecting on the past, he mentioned a conversation with a wise acquaintance two years ago who suggested that if he wanted to reduce risks for the Association, he should not continue as chairman. While he seriously considered stepping down at that time, he ultimately stayed on until now, but conceded that it was time to reconsider.
In recent years, the HKJA has faced ongoing challenges, with its membership dropping by half since 2019. In 2021, there were around 220 official members and a total of approximately 300 members across all categories. The future of the Association has drawn attention, with some official media outlets suggesting “dissolution as the only way out.” The HKJA also passed a resolution at their special members’ meeting in 2022 to lower the dissolution threshold. Chen Lang Sheng stated that they had not received any dissolution requests, acknowledging the challenging path ahead. He emphasized their commitment to persevering and hoped that the relevant parties would not harbor too much dissatisfaction or negative sentiments as they continued within legal bounds.
The HKJA traditionally held annual dinners as their main source of income, with past chief executives such as Donald Tsang and Carrie Lam being guests of honor, indicating good relations with the Hong Kong government. However, relations took a downturn during the 2019 anti-extradition protests, with officials frequently criticizing the Association. At the annual dinner in 2021, several sponsoring organizations opted not to be publicly acknowledged, leading Chen Lang Sheng to describe it as “keep a distance from strangers.” In June of last year, the HKJA moved their fundraising dinner to a restaurant, with state media describing the scene as dismal.
Authorities have been accused of exerting pressure on the HKJA from all angles, including a request in late November last year for the Association to submit financial statements and income tax returns from seven years ago. Additionally, in January of this year, they demanded over HK$400,000 in income tax. The HKJA responded by stating that they had consistently provided financial reports via auditors and deemed the tax department’s actions unreasonable. During the legislation of Article 23 of the Basic Law, the Association’s security bureau chief was criticized for not inviting representatives from the other side, citing a lack of credibility.
In the latest Amnesty International global human rights report released last Wednesday (24th), it mentioned the shrinking civil space in Hong Kong, continued restrictions on peaceful assemblies by the government, and the imprisonment of democracy advocates, journalists, and human rights activists on national security-related charges. Hong Kong ranked 140th in the World Press Freedom Index by Reporters Without Borders, classified as “difficult situation,” even lower than Singapore at 129th place.