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Radio Free Asia (RFA), a US-funded news outlet, has announced the closure of its Hong Kong bureau, citing safety concerns for its reporting staff.

This decision marks the organization as the first media outlet to exit the city in the wake of the controversial national security law. RFA’s President and CEO, Bay Fang, expressed the difficulties in ensuring the safety of its staff due to actions by Hong Kong authorities, including labeling RFA a “foreign force.” He said, “Actions by Hong Kong authorities, including referring to RFA as a ‘foreign force’, raise serious questions about our ability to operate in safety with the enactment of Article 23.”

The closure comes amid growing tensions and concerns over press freedom in Hong Kong, following the implementation of the national security law. The Hong Kong government responded to RFA’s announcement by dismissing claims of scaremongering and asserting that “normal journalists” operating within the law have nothing to fear.

Despite these assurances, RFA detailed its plan to adopt a new reporting model suited for closed media environments, indicating a significant shift away from on-the-ground operations in Hong Kong.

What does article 23 do?
Article 23 of Hong Kong’s National Security Law mandates that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) enact laws on its own to prohibit any act of treason, secession, sedition, subversion against the Central People’s Government, theft of state secrets, and to prohibit political organizations or bodies of the region from establishing ties with foreign political organizations or bodies. According to the government, article 23 specifically aims to safeguard national security by addressing internal and external threats through local legislation. Its implementation has been a subject of international concern and debate, particularly regarding its implications for Hong Kong’s autonomy and freedoms.