Press Freedom Under Fire: Hong Kong Journalists Face Tax Scrutiny

The Hong Kong Journalists Association has reported that multiple news outlets and their founders are under tax scrutiny, compounding existing pressures on journalists. The association claims that these investigations are arbitrary and have led to undue burdens on those in the media.

Journalists in Hong Kong are grappling with a heightened sense of insecurity, as intensifying restrictions on press freedom have now escalated to unwarranted tax investigations. The Hong Kong Journalists Association announced on Wednesday that both the union and six independent media outlets—and their founders—have come under scrutiny from the local tax authorities, further deepening worries about freedom of expression in the region.

According to the association, some of the scrutinized journalists have even had their personal tax records and those of their family members, including spouses and parents, investigated, adding an additional layer of anxiety to their professional challenges. Many of these journalists have reported receiving additional tax demands requiring them to furnish financial documentation spanning as far back as seven years.

Selina Cheng, the association's chair, expressed concerns that these tax investigations appear unfounded and exaggerated, often disregarding standard business expenses in their assessments. “The financial burdens on journalists are significant. They don’t earn high incomes, and now face the daunting task of proving their innocence in these investigations, which is both time-consuming and costly,” Cheng remarked.

While the overall number of tax investigations in Hong Kong remains relatively small—with approximately 1,800 completed field audits in the fiscal year 2023-2024—the Inland Revenue Department insists that all inquiries comply with standard procedures, asserting that no taxpayer's background influences the reviews. The journalist community, however, remains skeptical, worried that these tax audits are a tactic to diminish press freedoms and stifle dissent in the wake of the ongoing national security measures.