 Hundreds protest over sacking of Hong Kong editor Hong Kong (AFP) May 2, 2016 - Hundreds of protesters gathered Monday outside the headquarters of a Hong Kong newspaper where a respected editor was recently sacked after publishing a front-page story linked to the Panama Papers leak. Around 300 reporters, activists and members of the public rallied over the firing of Keung Kwok-yuen, saying it was further evidence of deteriorating press freedoms in the semi-autonomous city as Beijing tightens its grip. Keung was sacked overnight last month from investigative newspaper Ming Pao, whose former chief editor was stabbed by masked attackers in the street two years ago. His sacking coincided with the paper publishing a front-page story linking top Hong Kong businessmen and politicians to new revelations from the Panama Papers. The trove of documents, released in April by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, has exposed how Panama law firm Mossack Fonseca helped China's rich and powerful funnel their wealth into tax havens. "The public is very concerned over press freedoms in Hong Kong. We have been doing a good job... covering a lot of news including sensitive political issues such as human rights in China," said Phyllis Tsang, head of the newspaper's staff association. "We demand a clear explanation (from the management) on the real reasons for the firing of Mr. Keung. Was there any relation to this kind of reporting?" Protesters sat on the ground outside Ming Pao's offices Monday afternoon. One banner read: "They can't fire us all." Some also held up pieces of ginger -- which sounds "Keung", the editor's surname, in Cantonese. "Hong Kong is a unique place in China where there is freedom of the press... Such freedoms could deteriorate if the bosses bow to pressure," said reader Stanley Ng, 55, an urban planner, who had joined the protest. Lawmaker Emily Lau of the Democratic Party warned Beijing was "exerting a lot of pressure on media and many news organisations are willing to comply". "Hong Kong people have to stick together to defend editorial independence," she said. Reporters have said the decision to sack Keung was taken by Malaysian chief editor Chong Tien Siong, who is seen as pro-Beijing. Chong was brought in two years ago to replace veteran investigative journalist Kevin Lau as chief editor, triggering protests by newspaper staff. Soon after, Lau was stabbed in broad daylight leaving him severely wounded, sparking major concerns over reporting freedoms.
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China's ruling Communist Party has disciplined an outspoken property tycoon who criticised its tightening grip on the media, it was announced Monday.
Ren Zhiqiang, nicknamed "the Cannon" for his provocative opinions and blunt defence of economic inequality, made "erroneous statements contrary to the party line, principles, policies and other aspects and represents a serious violation of the party's political discipline," said a statement on the website of Beijing's Xicheng district.
"It is decided to give Comrade Ren one year probation," the statement added.
The businessman is also a member of the ruling party and registered in Xicheng. Probation is one step short of expulsion from the party.
Ren's blunt views attracted a huge following -- 37 million on Sina Weibo alone -- until authorities closed his social media accounts after he came under fire in February.
Twin articles in the state-affiliated news portal Qianlong assailed Ren for questioning on social media whether citizens' money ought to be spent on pushing party propaganda.
"When did the people's government change into the party's government?" the commentary quoted Ren's since-deleted post as saying. "Is their money the party's?... Don't use taxpayers' money for things that don't provide them with services."
Ren made the comments after Xi visited the official news agency Xinhua, state broadcaster CCTV and the ruling party's mouthpiece the People's Daily. He ordered them to follow the Communist Party line, focus on "positive reporting", and "speak the party's will and protect the party's authority and unity", according to Xinhua.
The party brooks no opposition to its rule and newspapers, websites, and broadcasters are strictly controlled by the government. An army of censors patrols social media to delete comments deemed taboo and many Western news websites are blocked.
Ren had previously drawn fire for calling CCTV "the dumbest pig on earth" and for his blunt statements defending the high prices of real estate.
One of the Qianlong articles -- headlined "Who gave Ren the confidence to oppose the party?" -- accused the businessman of making capitalist arguments and pursuing Western constitutionalism. It argued that the Soviet Union fell because the media failed to uphold loyalty to the ruling party.
The other upbraided him for failing to defend the interests of the Communist Party, ominously warning: "Any behaviour that stirs up chaos will inevitably encounter the people's scorn, any attempt to provoke a disturbance and stir up hate will encounter the people's opposition, and netizens' teaching him a lesson in communism is the best proof."
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