![]() In his drawing, a man tells a woman that even if some people failed exams and have health problems, they can still be appointed to the committees as long as the “senior officers” deemed they are suitable. Most recently, the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau slammed his work for “smearing” the government’s role of appointing local committee members who will choose candidates in district council elections later this year. Multiple cartoons by Wong have been criticized in recent months by different government agencies, including the security bureau. Authorities have also increasingly used a colonial-era sedition law to target critical voices. Since Beijing imposed a sweeping National Security Law following massive pro-democracy protests in 2019, the city’s art and media communities have learned to be wary of crossing vaguely defined red lines in producing art and other content that might be perceived as challenging Communist Party control. If it had been other platforms, the halting of publication would have happened way earlier,” Wong said. “Honestly, I appreciate very much that Ming Pao let my cartoons be published until now. He will try to find other channels to publish his cartoons, he said. Wong said he feels the city’s freedoms of speech and expression are shrinking but that he will continue to create as long as he is able to. The newspaper has not responded to requests for further comment. His comic drawings caricatured Hong Kong society’s frustrations since before the then-British colony was returned to Chinese rule in 1997. “Everyone knows why publication has to be halted, but no one will ‘confirm’ the reason,” he said in a text message to the AP with two emojis showing a laughing face. Wong, better known by the pen name Zunzi, told The Associated Press the decision was made through mutual consultation. HONG KONG (AP) - A Hong Kong newspaper announced Thursday it will stop publishing drawings by the city’s most prominent political cartoonist after they drew government complaints, in another example of restrictions on speech and media after a Beijing-led crackdown.Ĭhinese-language newspaper Ming Pao did not explain why it is ending its 40-year partnership with Wong Kei-kwan on Sunday.
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