联合国人权办公室声明中说,对港府持续打压公民空间感到担心,称大家目睹香港的公民社会,自由表达的空间急剧收窄。该办公室重申,香港受到《公民权利及政治权利国际公约》约束,因此有法律责任尊重资讯、言论及集会自由,以及保证正当程序处理。
#HongKongSAR: We are alarmed by continued crackdown on civic space, incl. today’s arrest of 6 media workers at Stand News. We urge the authorities to ensure that further proceedings fully respect rights to freedom of information, expression & association, as well as due process.
— UN Human Rights (@UNHumanRights) December 29, 2021
The Hong Kong outlet Stand News, an ICIJ partner, has been shut down after police raided its office, froze its assets and arrested senior staff on suspected "seditious publication."
— ICIJ (@ICIJorg) December 29, 2021
Global #pressfreedom advocates have denouned the crackdown (via @Reuters).*****1nOsQr3EtD
Deeply concerned by the closure of Stand News and related arrests in Hong Kong. A?confident government that is unafraid of the truth embraces a free press. We call on the?Hong Kong authorities to stop targeting the independent media and release those unjustly detained.
— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) December 30, 2021
Media freedom plays an indispensable role in informing the public, holding governments accountable, and telling stories that otherwise would not be told. The U.S. will continue to stand up for the brave and necessary work of journalists around the world. #SummitForDemocracy pic.twitter.com/ilitbdzSd1
— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) December 8, 2021
华盛顿 — 美国国务卿布林肯在美国东部时间星期三(12月29日)晚上(中国星期四上午)就香港网络媒体《立场新闻》新闻高层人员被抓捕、《立场新闻》被迫关闭发表声明。
声明说:“香港政府12月29日搜查并逮捕《立场新闻》7名高层人员,迫使香港残存的为数不多的又一所自由和独立的媒体堡垒停止运作。新闻报道并不是煽动。我们呼吁中华人民共和国和香港当局停止针对香港自由和独立的媒体的打击,立即释放那些记者和媒体主管人员。对他们的拘留和指控是不公正的。”
声明接着说:“表达自由,包括媒体自由,以及获得由独立的媒体提供的信息的权利对社会的繁荣和安全至关重要。这些自由过去使香港得以作为全球金融、贸易、教育和文化中心获得繁荣。中华人民共和国和地方当局迫使自由媒体噤声,从根本上损害了香港的公信力和活力。一个不惧怕真相的有自信的政府欢迎新闻自由。”
星期三香港时间上午(美国东部时间星期二晚上),香港警方国安处人员突击搜查了该网站的办公室,冻结了其资产,并以涉嫌“串谋发布煽动刊物罪”逮捕了六名前任和现任高层。立场新闻决定即时停止运作。
(美国之音中文网)
The CCP continues to crush free speech as they arrest the "Stand News" editor-in-chief. How can we possibly have the Olympics in this police state! #BoycottBeijingOlympics #HKPoliceState @hkdc_us @hk_watch @SolomonYue @frances_hui @Stand_with_HK @Fight4HongKong @hkdc_us #HK pic.twitter.com/PxkHHlC1dm
— Rev. Patrick Mahoney (@revmahoney) December 29, 2021