HKJA's Chan Plans Overseas Study... Can He?

Chan plans to return to Hong Kong after his studies

The head of the Hong Kong Journalists Association will be taking part in the Reuters Institute's fellowship program at Oxford University in early October. Ronson Chan made the announcement on his Facebook on Thursday and has plans to return to the city afterwards and so he will be laying low, as the HKJA is under pressure from the national security bureau.

"I know many of my friends, citizens, and readers who care about me will hope that I know when to stay or leave, but to use a cliche, I [will] miss Hong Kong, and the program said that they hoped participants will return to their place of origin after the program ended," Chan wrote.

"Therefore, I will speak and act cautiously in the United Kingdom, and return to Hong Kong after half a year's study as planned."

Academic Hui Po-keung was arrested at airport

Since the 2019 protests and the enactment of the national security law, many civil society groups, as well as the HKJA have faced pressure from the authorities as well as criticism from pro-Beijing and state media.

But will Chan even be allowed to leave Hong Kong? He was also deputy assignment editor at the now defunct Stand News.

Earlier this month, Hui Po-keung, academic and trustee of the 612 Humanitarian Relief Fund, was arrested at Hong Kong International Airport as he was on his way to Germany to take up visiting scholar post. And in March, Paul Harris, former head of the Bar Association was quizzed by the national security police and he left the city hours after.

However, Chan says he's not worried about being arrested at the airport.

"I don't want them to say that I'm absconding, if they want to arrest me they will... It's such a rare opportunity for people like us who only got 14 marks in the Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination, [I] have to seize the opportunity. Of course I will go," he told an English-language media outlet.

When asked if he was planning to come back after his studies, Chan replied that he "never intended to leave", and that he was "only going for further studies."

Tang is putting pressure on the HKJA

The HKJA has been under attack by pro-establishment figures including Secretary for Security and former police chief Chris Tang Ping-keung who expressed doubt of HKJA's professionalism and alleged political bias. Tang had hinted that perhaps the government should be the one issuing press identification to weed out those producing fake news.

Is Chan playing with fire or will he really be allowed to leave?

Perhaps with such a public announcement he is hoping the national security police will back off, but who knows... they could pre-empt his departure in other ways...

Chan should try to take this opportunity to study abroad, and he is extremely brave to go for it.

All eyes will be on him in the days leading up to his departure... if there are any decent media outlets left by October...