UNESCO is the lead UN Agency for promoting freedom of expression and safety of journalists as part of its mandate to “promote the free flow of ideas by word and image”.
Understanding Journalist Safety in Hong Kong
Hong Kong journalists, especially those subscribed to the liberal conception of journalistic professionalism, have been under pressure since the enactment of the National Security Law in June 2020. The subsequent invocation of the colonial era sedition law -- later incorporated into the Securing National Security Ordinance in 2023 -- and prosecution of the pro-democracy Apple Daily and Stand News led to worries and anxieties. This arguably explains Hong Kong’s low ranking on the psychological safety dimension. Meanwhile, in September 2025, the Hong Kong Journalists Association publicized the experience of systematic harassment suffered by journalists from numerous organizations between June and August of the year. The harassment involved the sending of letters and emails to not only the journalists but also their family members or neighbours. Digital doxxing was ostensibly done to obtain personal information from the journalists. The Hong Kong police vowed to investigate into the issue fairly. Nonetheless, the emergence of online and offline harassment could explain the low ranking of Hong Kong on the digital safety index. Notably, the Hong Kong survey was conducted in September and October, around the time the Hong Kong Journalists Association publicized the harassment problem. Hong Kong journalists remained less concerned about their physical safety, however. There have not been murders of journalists in post-handover Hong Kong. The last time a journalist was seriously physically attacked was in 2014. Lengthy periods of pre-trial detention had become a "norm" on cases directly related to national security concerns, but the number of journalists who actually experienced arrest and detention remains very small. Hence Hong Kong fares better on physical safety.
Safety Dimensions
This radar chart displays how the country performs across all four safety dimensions, revealing areas of strength and concern.
Gender Safety Gap
This comparison highlights differences in safety experiences between male and female journalists, revealing potential gender-based disparities.
Physical Safety
The physical dimension carries 50% weight in the safety index. Read the methodology in full.
Journalist Killings (35% weight in physical dimension)
This figure represents the total number of journalist killings in Hong Kong between 2016 and 2024.
Data sourced from UNESCO Observatory of Killed Journalists.
Note: This indicator carries 35% of the weight within the physical dimension of the Safety Index, making it the most significant factor in this category.
Responses to: "I am concerned about my physical wellbeing" (20% weight in physical dimension)
Responses to: "In the last five years, how often have you experienced any of the following actions related to your work as a journalist?"
Arrests, detentions or imprisonment (15% weight in physical dimension)
Sexual assault or sexual harassment (15% weight in physical dimension)
Other physical attacks (15% weight in physical dimension)
Abductions (did not contribute to calculation)
Office raids or seizures or damage of equipment (did not contribute to calculation)
Being required to work in an environment where COVID-19 had easily spread (did not contribute to calculation)
Psychological Safety
The psychological dimension carries 25% weight in the safety index. Read the methodology in full.
Responses to: "I am concerned about my emotional wellbeing" (20% weight in psychological dimension)
Responses to: "In the last five years, how often have you experienced any of the following actions related to your work as a journalist?"
Demeaning or hateful speech directed at you (16% weight in psychological dimension)
Public discrediting of your work (16% weight in psychological dimension)
Legal actions against you because of your work (16% weight in psychological dimension)
Stalking (16% weight in psychological dimension)
Other threats or intimidation directed at you (16% weight in psychological dimension)
Coercion (did not contribute to calculation)
Questioning of your personal morality (did not contribute to calculation)
Workplace bullying (did not contribute to calculation)
Intimidation that targets your family or close associates (did not contribute to calculation)
Digital Safety
The digital dimension carries 12.5% weight in the safety index. Read the methodology in full.
Responses to: "In the last five years, how often have you experienced any of the following actions related to your work as a journalist?"
Surveillance (50% weight in digital dimension)
Hacking or blocking of social media accounts or websites (50% weight in digital dimension)
Others using your byline for fabricated or manipulated stories (did not contribute to calculation)
Others disseminating your personal information (did not contribute to calculation)
Financial Safety
The financial dimension carries 12.5% weight in the safety index. Read the methodology in full.
Responses to: "I am worried about losing my job in journalism within the next 12 months" (20% weight in financial dimension)
Responses to: "Which of the following categories best describes your current working situation as a journalist?" (20% weight in financial dimension)
Responses to "Approximately what percentage of your overall work-related income comes from your work as a journalist?" (20% weight in financial dimension)
Responses to: "How many hours a week on average do you work as a journalist?" (20% weight in financial dimension)
Responses to: "In which of the following categories does your salary as a journalist fall?" (20% weight in financial dimension)
Demographics
This section contains demographic information about survey respondents from Hong Kong.
Coming soon
Demographic information about survey respondents will be available in a future update.