Many newsstands in Hong Kong have recently received intimidation letters for selling The Epoch Times newspapers, with threats to report them for “endangering national security.”
One such letter reviewed by The Epoch Times threatened to report the stands to Hong Kong’s national security authorities for selling Chinese language papers from The Epoch Times and another independent media, Vision Times.
Citing the city’s 2020 national security law and a national security ordinance imposed last year, which critics said are used by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to restrict freedom in the special administrative region, the letter threatened that the vendors would “bear legal risks for aiding, abetting, and colluding with foreign forces to endanger national security” by helping to sell The Epoch Times.
“We have sent people to inspect newsstands around Hong Kong and learned that you have—and still are—selling The Epoch Times and Vision Times, spreading seeds of anti-communist thoughts,” the letter stated, asserting that the outlets have “assisted Falun Gong in publishing inaccurate reporting to smear the country’s leadership and the communist party.”
Founded in 2000 by Falun Gong practitioners, The Epoch Times has consistently reported on the human rights abuses in China, including Beijing’s campaign targeting the faith group.
The printed letter was three pages long and left no return address. The sender claims to be part of a group that was formed specifically to target Falun Gong. No details about the group are available online.
Lu Jie, head of The Epoch Times distribution department in Hong Kong, said that the newspaper holds a valid government-issued distribution license and operates legally in the city. She also noted that the individuals harassing newsstands are neither law enforcement nor judicial authorities.
The Epoch Times staff reported the incident to the police on Feb. 15, urging authorities to address the intimidation acts and step up patrols.
“Hong Kong is a society governed by the rule of law. Intimidating and slandering others are illegal and criminal acts,” Lu said in a statement. “We will closely monitor the situation at newsstands and pursue the perpetrators in accordance with the law.”
A newsstand owner who received a threat letter told The Epoch Times that she was doing legitimate business and would not fear such threats.
A number of other Hong Kong-based media have reported threats and harassment recently.
Dozens of journalists, their family members, or associates received various forms of pressure online and offline, according to the association. These include trolling on social media, emails, and letters sent to their workplaces, homes, and affiliate organizations that threaten their personal safety and employment.
Individuals claiming to be “patriots” sent anonymous complaints by email or letter to at least 15 journalists’ family members and related organizations. Many demanded the recipients to cut ties with the journalists or risk endangering national security, according to the journalist trade union.
Selina Cheng, chair of the press union, said the latest threat campaign shows a “coordinated effort to intimidate those who try to publish news in Hong Kong.”
“Anyone sensible will know that a lot of these allegations would be false and would not give serious regard to this type of messages,” she told The Epoch Times.
But the threat actors are exploiting the climate of fear in Hong Kong, making “groundless accusations” in a bid to “intimidate people into doing what these harassers want,” she said.
The Epoch Times has faced repeated sabotage efforts in Hong Kong.
Cheng said she will raise concerns with the local representatives for news vendors to see if they’ve taken any action. She called for Hong Kong authorities to condemn the intimidation acts.
“That’s the only right way to do it, if they don’t speak up against these kinds of actions, it’s going to further perpetuate this climate,” she said. “It really does no good to the city’s image that it’s a safe place to operate and to live.”
