Without funding from the insured or coherent congress disseminated by the USAGM, the FRGs have reduced its operations, certain linguistic services becoming completely dark. The last victim was Cantonese FRG, among the last fiercely independent outlets in Hong Kong. RFA journalists have always risked their personal security to account for what is ignored and censored by the media controlled by the CCP – just watch this video of our coverage of the demonstrations of HK Pro -Democracy (Link HERE)-That is to say until last week. Among the mourning, there were some cheers, including CCP …
‘Good news!’
Who is the most excited by the closure of the Cantonese of RFA? China. (Surprise, surprise.)
“Good news!” Influencer of Pro-Chinese Social Media Li Jingjing to its 116,000 subscribers on X. “The Cantonese Radio Asia service was closed, just before the 28th anniversary of the return of Hong Kong in the homeland! These media repaired lies, hatred and separatism sticking to China, served as a propaganda tool with the funding of the US Média de Média (USAGM). ” The China’s ambassador to Nepal rang with his approval message (photo).
World times sponsored by the state of China reported That “the notorious anti-china media radio free asia” closed. History included a quote from the spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry of MAO Ning given in March, when the FRG was informed by the US government that its grant agreement has been suspended: “We are not going to comment on the American adaptation of its national policies. No love of the CCP.
‘Thank you for always telling the truth’
Opinions take a lively turn with people who relied on our Cantonese reports. “Many Hong Kong media have been forced to close by the CCP and the government of repressive HK, but ironically, it is the American government which is finished” Cantonese RFA, the Hong Kong Democracy Council said on x.
“Thank you RFA for sharing Hong Kong, namely the truth about the news of the world Facebook page of RFA Cantonese,, said in a comment. “I think you will come back; We will wait. “
Reading the Cantonese RFA on Instagram had “become a habit”, said a commentator. “Thank you for always telling the truth,” said another. Many have repeated this question: “What other Cantonese information media can I look at?” And Media Freedom Watchdog RSF added: “[Reporters Without Borders] is indignant by the closure of Cantonais Radio Asia (FRG), ” The org posted on Bluesky. “7.5 million Hongkongers are already living in a desert new croissants. Trump claims to” stand with Hong Kong “, but his decision to interrupt funding for USAGM media as RFA has access to reliable news on territory and around the world.”
Document the decline of freedom in Hong Kong
Since its beginning in 1998, the year after the transfer of Hong Kong to China, the Cantonean RFA has been a constant source of news in Hong Kong, Macao and on the continent. TThe concept of a promised approach “a country, two systems”, an approach to governance has faded with the increased influence of China in Hong Kong – the change that accelerated with the National Security Act in 2020 which enabled Beijing to drive a large part of the independent media of the territory.
With the passage of article 23 and after having been described as “foreign force”, the Cantonean RFA was forced to close his Hong Kong office in 2024, but his influence continued to grow, especially on social networks. When he closed in June, he had become one of the last independent media in Hong Kong.
- In a research study in the field of January 2024 on the young people escaped from Hong Kong in Taiwan, the participants considered the FRG as crucial to fill the information gaps and an essential resource for the increasingly limited information landscape.
- The Cantonese of the FRG delivered in -depth coverage of the historic affairs of the Hong Kong court in November 2024: the trials of 47 pro-democracy activists and media tycoon Jimmy Lai. The reports attracted more than 130,000 views and won the praise of family members who confirmed the position of RFA as a source of very reliable news for the HK public.
- RFA documented Hong Kong National security repression and the global movement of exile, including a recent functionality Profit three Hong Kong activists, based in the United States, which attracted nearly 200,000 views of Youtube in a week.