Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09HONGKONG1792
2009-09-22 07:25:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Hong Kong
Cable title:  

HONG KONG MEDIA REPORTS UNITED STATES "BLACK HAND"

Tags:  PROP PREL SOCI HK CH 
pdf how-to read a cable
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PP RUEHCN RUEHGH RUEHVC
DE RUEHHK #1792/01 2650725
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 220725Z SEP 09
FM AMCONSUL HONG KONG
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8588
INFO RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 HONG KONG 001792 

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EAP/CM AND EAP/PD; ALSO FOR DRL

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/16/2019
TAGS: PROP PREL SOCI HK CH
SUBJECT: HONG KONG MEDIA REPORTS UNITED STATES "BLACK HAND"
INTERFERES IN HK

Classified By: Acting Consul General Christopher J. Marut for reasons 1
.4(b) and (d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 HONG KONG 001792

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EAP/CM AND EAP/PD; ALSO FOR DRL

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/16/2019
TAGS: PROP PREL SOCI HK CH
SUBJECT: HONG KONG MEDIA REPORTS UNITED STATES "BLACK HAND"
INTERFERES IN HK

Classified By: Acting Consul General Christopher J. Marut for reasons 1
.4(b) and (d)


1. (C) Summary: Hong Kong media coverage of a series of
articles by Shanghai Fudan University scholars is but the
latest in a long-running history of accusing the U.S.
government, through the Consulate General, of interfering in
Hong Kong's affairs. The usual allegations are that the USG,
in league with its allies, proxies, and agents among the
pan-democratic movement, seeks to destabilize Hong Kong
and/or use it as an advance base to foment a "color
revolution" on the Mainland. While well-placed Hong
Kong-based journalists dismiss the credibility of such
reporting, they nevertheless see coverage of Mainland views
critical of the United States as reflecting a long-term trend
of entities with commercial ties to the Mainland acquiring
controlling interests in prominent Hong Kong media outlets.
End Summary.

--------------
Hong Kong Media Pick Up Fudan "Study"
--------------


2. (SBU) Hong Kong,s Sing Pao Daily News reported September
9 on a series of articles by Shanghai Fudan University
scholars Ni Shixiong and Shen Benqiu alleging U.S.
interference in Hong Kong and stressing the need for China to
ensure that Chinese "patriots" continue to rule the Special
Administrative Region. Ni, a former Director of Fudan's
Center for American Studies (founded in part with a grant
from the U.S. government),alleges that the United States
interfered in Hong Kong,s 2008 Legislative Council (LegCo)
elections and plans to support opposition parties in the 2012
and 2016 elections. While nominally independent, Sing Pao
(circ. 30,000) is known for leaning
pro-Government/pro-Beijing. Of greater concern was respected
centrist Ming Pao Daily News' (circulation 90,000) picking up
the story, noting that the studies claim the United States
seeks to promote a "color revolution in Hong Kong." The
articles were also reported in the Singapore media. On the
Mainland, we understand monthly "Party Life" meetings of
local Communist Party branch members have reportedly featured
discussion of the Fudan articles.

-------------- --------------
Journalists Dismiss Coverage, Lament Bias toward Mainland
-------------- --------------


3. (C) In a September 10 lunch with our Public Affairs
Section, board members of the Hong Kong Journalists
Association (HKJA) dismissed Sing Pao,s coverage of the
study, calling the paper a "government gazette mouthpiece."
In addition, members of the board assessed that Hong Kong
media coverage of the United States has become more negative
as Hong Kong-based commercial interests "with an eye on the
Mainland market" had taken over key properties. The HKJA
members singled out Chinese-language Sing Tao Daily
(circulation 40,000) and its sister publication The Standard
(circulation 35,000),both of which are now controlled by
wealthy Hong Kong businessman Charles Ho. An HKJA officer
said only half-jokingly that Sing Tao,s past references to
"Communist Bandits" (gong fei) had now been replaced by the
U.S. "black hand," as the paper curried favor with the
Mainland.


4. (SBU) In a separate September 9 Consulate General
representational dinner, an executive at Hong Kong-based
Mandarin language broadcaster Phoenix TV told us that China
Telecom had taken a 10 percent stake in the company, which he
claimed now has 300 million viewers on the Mainland. (Note:
We understand a more realistic estimate is 150 million, with
millions more in other countries. End Note) The executive
asserted, however, that the investment had not impacted
Phoenix,s independence and was designed to facilitate
content delivery over mobile platforms.

--------------
Comment
--------------


5. (C) Thirteen years after Hong Kong,s return to Chinese
sovereignty, the press here remains free of official
interference, but concern over censorship and self-censorship
is growing, especially on sensitive political issues, like
Hong Kong's democratic development and key Mainland political
concerns. HKJA and other human rights observers contend
major media organizations owned by large corporations may
respond to their publishers' commercial interests on the
Mainland by toning down criticism of the PRC and its views.
The most recent run of articles on the U.S. "black hand" may

HONG KONG 00001792 002 OF 002


also reflect a belief that the United States is in league
with local democracy activists to foment instability during
the coming debate on constitutional reform. That Ming Pao
ran the story is particularly troubling, since its tone is
counter to the norm of serious reporting and thoughtful
commentary for which the paper is known.
MARUT