After serving 28 years at Hong Kong Economic Journal, one of the city’s leading newspapers, its vice president Chan King-Cheung suddenly resigned. Chan confirmed his resignation in an interview with Hong Kong’s Ming Pao Daily on Oct. 18, but did not explain his decision. He said vaguely that his opinions and those of the company are “on different paths.”
Chan, who indicated he does not have another job lined up, said he would leave fully by the end of this year.
Despite Chan’s cool demeanour, it’s unlikely his decision left many people guessing.
Chan has published multiple articles sympathizing with pro-democracy protesters in the Occupy Central movement, has criticized Hong Kong police for violent suppression, and has decried Beijing’s decision on election reform.
In an opinion article in the Economic Journal on Sept. 1, Chan said he was worried Beijing’s decision on Aug. 31 to vet candidates of Hong Kong chief executive election in 2017 would bring an end to the Chinese regime’s “one country two systems” policy for governing Hong Kong.
Chan was the chief editor of Economic Journal from 2003 to 2013, and he became the vice president of the Journal and CEO of the Digital Broadcasting Corporation Hong Kong Limited (DBC) in 2013.
Since the new chief editor Guo Yanming took Chan’s place in August 2013, the newspaper has censored itself more strictly in order to avoid scrutiny from the Chinese regime, especially on articles about the pro-democracy Occupy Central movement.
A column by Edward Chin the Economic Journal has published for nine years was suddenly canceled last month. Chin is a member of the Financial Professionals for Occupy Central. Guo refused to give an explanation.
An article last September that criticized Hong Kong TVB for being biased in its coverage of Hong Kong chief executive Leung Chun-ying was spiked by Guo right before printing. The article criticized TVB for only reporting about supporters of Leung while ignoring the noisy appeals against Leung. The following month, a deputy editor and three reporters quit their jobs at the Economic Journal together.
The founder of the Economic Journal, Lam Hang Chi, is famous for his opinion articles and has also expressed his anger and disappointment towards the newspaper since last year.
Lam published an article last August that criticized Leung’s pro-Beijing stance and anti-Occupy Central groups for acting like “dim-witted thugs.” Afterwards, the Economic Journal published an open letter from the anti-Occupy Central group criticizing Lam’s article.
Lam sold his remaining shares in the company last month.
With additional research and translation by Lu Chen.
