Reporters Without Borders Picks Taiwan for Asian Bureau
Ms. Mo said that before returning to Chinese control in 1997, Hong Kong had led Asia in press freedom, but
that under Chinese sovereignty, "It’s been going downhill." Mak Yin-ting, the former chairwoman of the Hong Kong Journalists Association and a member of its press freedom subcommittee, said that conditions had worsened under Hong Kong’s leader, Leung Chun-ying, who will step down on July 1.
Hsu Kuo-yung said that Because of difficulties owing to Taiwan’s diplomatic plight, strengthening ties with international NGOs
that espouse universal values, such as R.S.F., will be a boost to Taiwan’s international participation,
" Christophe Deloire, the group’s secretary general, said in an email, adding, "It is not so easy now to run activities from there." Mr. Deloire said
that the Paris-based organization, also known as Reporters Sans Frontières, decided against Hong Kong because of "a lack of legal certainty for our entity and activities." He also cited the possibility that staff members would be put under surveillance. that Hong Kong was the place where we originally wanted to open an office in Asia,
" Taiwan’s profile on Reporters Without Borders’ website said.
that The main threat to media freedom comes from China, which has been exerting growing economic and political pressure on the Taiwanese media,
By CHRIS HORTONAPRIL 6, 2017
HONG KONG — Reporters Without Borders, which advocates press freedom, announced on Thursday
that it would open its first Asian bureau in Taipei, Taiwan’s capital, rather than in Hong Kong, which is increasingly under China’s sway.
Taiwan began its democratic transformation in the 1990s and now ranks 51st globally for press freedom, according to Reporters Without Borders.
Claudia Mo said that I don’t blame Reporters Without Borders for jilting Hong Kong,