香港メディア弾圧「深い懸念」　日米欧２１カ国が共同声明

　【ワシントン時事】米国務省は８日、日米欧などの２１カ国が共同声明を出し、香港当局による報道の自由や独立系メディアへの弾圧に「深い懸念」を表明したと発表した。開催中の北京冬季五輪に各国の注目が集まる中、中国の反発は必至だ。
　香港では昨年以降、日刊紙・蘋果日報（リンゴ日報）が廃刊となり、民主派寄りの論調で知られるインターネットメディア「立場新聞」と「衆新聞」も運営停止に追い込まれた。共同声明は国家安全維持法が施行されて以降、当局が独立系メディアへの弾圧を強めていると指摘し「人権や言論の自由の抑圧により、香港の国際的な評価を損なっている」と非難した。（2022/02/09-11:02）

Japan, the United States and 19 other nations have issued a joint statement expressing their "deep concern" at the Hong Kong authorities' attacks on freedom of the press and their suppression of independent local media, the U.S. Department of State said Tuesday.
   The statement was drawn up under the name of the Media Freedom Coalition, signed by the 21 countries, also including Britain, Canada, Germany and Australia.
   The authorities have suppressed independent media in Hong Kong more strongly since the enactment of China's national security law in 2020, undermining "confidence in Hong Kong's international reputation," the statement said.
   "We urge Hong Kong and mainland Chinese authorities to respect freedom of the press and freedom of speech in Hong Kong," the statement said.
   Since last year in Hong Kong, Apple Daily, a newspaper critical of Beijing, has closed down and pro-democracy news sites Stand News and Citizens News have been forced to halt their operations.