Australian lawyer Samuel Monkivitch has received a fine and suspended 18-month jail term after pleading guilty to charges relating to a dine-and-dash spree across the territory.

Monkivitch appeared on Friday at the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts after dining at five-star hotels in Hong Kong without paying. He was previously fined HK$3,000 over similar charges.

In the most recent case, Monkivitch was charged with four instances of making off without payment between April 24 and May 5, as well as a criminal damage charge, local media reported.

The lawyer failed to pay restaurant bills at the Island Shangri-La’s Cafe Too in Admiralty, at the Kowloon Shangri-La’s Cafe Kool in Tsim Sha Tsui, and at two other restaurants – one in Central and another in Wan Chai. His bill at the four eateries totalled around HK$2,039, the court heard.

The criminal damage offences relate to allegations that, on May 4, he destroyed a sales terminal at the Island Shangri-La and damaged a person’s iPhone outside the Hong Kong Museum of History in Tsim Sha Tsui.

The 50-year-old was released on Friday after spending a month behind bars. He was fined HK$2,000 and was slapped with an six-week jail term suspended for 18 months, according to The Age. He was also ordered to pay HK12,539.90 to cover the damaged iPhone and unpaid bills.

A family member – who travelled to Hong Kong for the hearing – agreed to pay the fine.

He represented himself before Magistrate David Cheung, confirming that he was unemployed given his time in custody. When asked when he planned to return to Australia, he said “today, probably,” according to The Age. He pleaded guilty without seeing the prosecution’s statement of facts.

His former employer KorumLegal told the newspaper that they had parted ways with Monkivitch.

Earlier offence

Separately last month, he was fined HK$3,000 for two counts of making off without payment and one count of common assault. He pleaded guilty to the offences the same day, local media reported.

Monkivitch was accused of dashing off after spending HK$639.10 at a Chiu Chow restaurant in Times Square, a mall in Causeway Bay, on March 23. A restaurant staff member chased Monkivitch and said he had not paid, attracting the attention of a bystander surnamed Chen, who pointed a camera at him.

The lawyer got into an altercation with the bystander and said to him, “Do you want your head smashed in?”

Monkivitch was also accused of leaving before paying a bill of HK$586 at Footaholic, a massage parlour in Wan Chai, on March 25.

The driver of a Kowloon Motor Bus (KMB) double-decker has been arrested after the bus collided with a maintenance vehicle on Tsing Kwai Highway on Monday, injuring 22 people. The driver was among the injured.

Police said on Monday they arrested the driver, 39, on suspicion of dangerous driving after the collision left 21 bus passengers mildly injured. The driver also sustained injuries to his neck, waist, and legs.

The KMB route 960 bus was seen in dashcam footage travelling towards New Territories before appearing to ram into a stationary maintenance vehicle, which was fitted with flashing arrow signs.

The bus continued to roll forward and came to a halt only after it hit a second maintenance vehicle. A member of the maintenance team on the highway was seen running for safety moments after the first collision.

The front of the bus sustained major damage, trapping the driver in his cabin. He was later rescued and sent to hospital in a conscious state, according to the police.

KMB said the incident took place at roughly 2pm on Monday near Lai Chi Kok Amusement Park. The bus was travelling towards Tuen Mun at that time.

“The driver has been suspended from his duties and the KMB will cooperate with police investigation,” the company told HKFP.

Passengers said there were about 10 people on the lower deck at the time of the collision, which threw many off balance and onto the ground, according to local media reports.

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The choice of domain name is one of the most important decisions a business owner will make in establishing an online presence. Whether you are launching a new business or re-evaluating your digital strategy, understanding the fundamentals of domain names is essential. Below are ten of the most frequently asked questions about domain names, drawing on articles from www.allbusiness.com and research assistance from AI.

1. What Is a Domain Name?

A domain name is the human-readable address used to identify a website on the internet. Every computer on the internet has an Internet Protocol (IP) address—a unique string of numbers such as 165.166.0.2. Because remembering numerical IP addresses would be nearly impossible, computer scientists created the Domain Name System (DNS) to assign a readable name to each numeric address. The result is that instead of typing a string of numbers, users simply type a name like "Amazon.com" to reach a website.

Every domain name consists of two main elements: the actual name (such as "Amazon") and a top-level domain (TLD) such as ".com," ".org," or ".net." Together, these form the complete web address.

Domain names are managed globally by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), a nonprofit organization responsible for coordinating assignments, ensuring uniqueness, and maintaining internet stability. Companies, individuals, governments, and organizations all use domain names to establish their online presence and facilitate easy access for users worldwide.

But domain names are far more than a technical shortcut. A short, memorable domain name for your business can make the difference between creating a successful web presence and getting lost in cyberspace. Having your own domain name makes your company look professional and trustworthy, builds brand recognition, and lets you take your web address with you if you ever change hosting providers. A good domain name, in short, is a foundational business asset.

2. What Is an Exact Match Domain Name?

An exact match domain name is one where the domain perfectly matches the company's brand name, product name, or a key category keyword. For example, if a company sells candy and acquires Candy.com, that is an exact match domain. These domain names are critical to emerging companies because they deliver authority, credibility, and immediate brand clarity. They are also extremely scarce—for any brand or category, there is only one exact match .com domain.

The strategic importance of owning your exact match domain is highlighted by an analogy: some businesses spend $8 million or more for a single 30-second Super Bowl commercial. For a similar investment, a company could instead acquire its exact match .com domain name—a balance sheet asset that is appreciating, amortizable, and resalable, while simultaneously adding enterprise value and utility to the business. Unlike a TV spot that is over in seconds, a premium domain works for the business indefinitely.

The risks of not owning your exact match domain are significant. Some companies opt for alternative extensions like .io or .xyz when the .com is unavailable, but customers may still instinctively type the .com version and land on a competitor's or unrelated site. Important emails can also be misdirected.

And having the exact match domain name is infinitely superior to some derivative of it. After all, what would be more memorable, "getadministrate.com” or “administrate.com”?

3. How Do You Determine if a Domain Name Is Available?

Checking domain name availability is a straightforward process. Domain name registrars make it easy—you simply go to the registrar's website and enter the name you want. If it is available, you can register and pay for it on the spot, often with a credit card.

Popular domain registrars include well-known companies such as GoDaddy, Network Solutions, and others accredited by ICANN. Most web hosting providers also offer domain registration services. When you search for a name, the registrar will show you whether it is available, and if not, will often suggest available alternatives with different extensions or slight variations on the name you want. It is also wise to conduct a trademark search through the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) before registering, since registrars are not required to check whether a domain conflicts with an existing trademark.

4. How Do You Determine What a Domain Name Is Worth?

Domain name valuation is driven by several key factors. The primary drivers of value include length and memorability (shorter names command premium prices), keyword relevance (domains containing highly searched or commercially valuable terms carry greater value), and commercial potential (domains tied to profitable industries such as finance, real estate, travel, or luxury goods attract the highest prices).

The domain extension also matters significantly. For example, ".com" domains generally command higher prices due to global recognition, though some country-code TLDs can also achieve strong valuations.

The premium domain market has produced some staggering sales figures. Several notable transactions include:

• AI.com: Sold for $70 million in 2026, the highest domain name sales ever recorded.
• Voice.com: Sold for $30 million in 2019, one of the highest domain sales ever recorded.
• Chat.com: Sold for $15.5 million in 2024, reflecting surging interest in AI.
• Rocket.com: Sold for $14 million in 2024, acquired by Rocket Mortgage.
• Hotels.com: Sold for $11 million in 2001, demonstrating the enduring value of travel-industry domains.
• Diamond.com: Acquired for $7.5 million in 2006.

For most businesses, a domain name's value is also determined by its brand potential and uniqueness—how well it suits marketing, branding, or startup purposes. Unique, brandable domains attract substantial investment. For valuation purposes, tools like domain appraisal services and auction platforms can offer market-based estimates. Ultimately, a domain is worth what a motivated buyer will pay—and for strategic exact match domains, that figure can be very high indeed.

5. What Are Some Tips to Help Me Pick the Right Domain Name for My Business?

Choosing the right domain name requires both creativity and careful strategy. First and foremost, do not rush the decision—mistakes made in haste, such as picking an unpronounceable name or one too obscure for your brand, can be very difficult to undo. Keep the name simple, short (ideally one or two words), easy to spell, and easy to say out loud. Avoid numbers, hyphens, and odd spelling variations, as these frustrate customers and create confusion.

Here are several additional tips:

• Conduct a trademark search before registering to avoid potential infringement litigation.
• Choose a .com extension whenever possible—it is the most recognized and trusted TLD for businesses.
• Incorporate relevant keywords to improve SEO and help customers immediately understand what you do.
• Avoid names too similar to competitors that might create legal issues and brand confusion.
• Consider geo-targeting if your business serves a specific local market.
• Register multiple variations and extensions of your name to protect your brand.
• Think about your domain name at the same time you choose your business name—not as an afterthought. If you wait, you may find that every name close to your brand is already taken, forcing you to settle for something forgettable. A domain name that matches your company name reinforces your brand, makes word-of-mouth marketing more effective, and builds the kind of credibility that turns website visitors into customers.

6. What Are the Most Common Domain Name Extensions?

Domain name extensions, also called suffixes or top-level domains (TLDs), describe the type of entity or purpose behind a website. The four most widely used extensions are .com, .net, .ai, and .org. The .com extension stands for "commercial" and is by far the most popular and recognizable, serving as the gold standard for business websites. The .net extension was originally intended for network-related organizations but is now used more broadly. The .org extension is most commonly associated with nonprofit organizations. The .ai extension is used by artificial intelligence companies.

Beyond the big four, many other extensions are available. These include .biz (for small businesses), .info (for resource or informational sites), .us (restricted to U.S.-based individuals and organizations), and various country-code TLDs for international businesses. In 2011, ICANN opened the door for corporations to create entirely custom suffixes— or example, a company like Coca-Cola could potentially create a ".coke" extension—but this process requires a rigorous application, a $185,000 application fee, and a $25,000 annual maintenance fee, putting it well beyond reach for most small businesses.

For most small businesses, the practical advice is clear: go with .com if at all possible. It is the most easily remembered and most trusted by consumers. If .com is not available for your preferred name, rather than settling for a less recognizable extension, it may be worth reconsidering the name itself. Owning multiple extensions of the same name—for example, both YourBusiness.com and YourBusiness.net—is also a smart defensive strategy to prevent brand confusion and protect your web traffic.

7. What Are the Biggest Mistakes People Make When Choosing a Domain Name?

One of the most frequent mistakes is choosing a name that is too similar to a competitor's domain. While it might seem advantageous to capture spillover traffic, the reality is that it makes your business look like an imitation and can expose you to serious legal liability. Another major mistake is settling for an obscure or hard-to-remember name simply because your preferred name was unavailable. If a name is easily forgettable, it will hurt your brand no matter how good your products or services are.

Other frequent errors include making the domain name too long, using unusual spelling, and including hyphens or numbers. Domain names with dashes frustrate users and are easily forgotten. Companies that rely on clever or odd spellings—without also registering the standard spelling—risk losing traffic to typos and confusion. Equally dangerous is treating the domain name as an afterthought when starting a business: entrepreneurs who choose their business name first and domain name second often end up stuck with a poor URL because all the good options are gone.

A final but important mistake is failing to research similar domain names. Many business owners have lost customers to competitors, or received complaints, because a very similar domain name confused customers or led them to an inappropriate site. The lesson is to be thorough: research variations, check for trademark conflicts, and think carefully about what happens when a customer misspells your domain or types .com instead of your chosen extension. A little extra due diligence upfront can save significant headaches down the road.

8. Can You Buy a Domain Name That Someone Else Already Owns?

Yes, owning a registered domain name does not put it permanently out of reach. If the domain you want is already registered, you have several avenues for acquisition. The first step is to visit the URL in question: if you find a "parked" page or a notice saying the domain is for sale, the owner may be actively interested in selling. Many domain owners register names specifically to sell them later. You can attempt to contact the owner directly, or use a domain broker service to facilitate the negotiation.

A second option is to use a domain auction or marketplace platform. There are many dedicated websites for buying, selling, and leasing domain names where you can search for your desired name and make an offer. See, for example, www.atom.com. Prices in these marketplaces vary enormously—from a few hundred dollars for lightly sought names to millions for premium exact match domains.

9. What Legal Rights Do You Have Once You Own a Domain Name?

Simply registering a domain name does not automatically provide comprehensive legal protection. Before registering a domain, business owners should conduct a search with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) to check for any existing trademarks that could conflict with the name. This is important because domain registrars are not required to verify whether a requested name violates a trademark—they will issue the domain regardless. If a trademark conflict exists and the trademark holder takes legal action, you could lose your domain and potentially face liability for the owner's legal costs.

The most effective way to protect your domain name legally is to register it as a federal trademark. While you do not need formal trademark registration to begin using a name in commerce, registration significantly strengthens your legal claim and makes it harder for others to infringe on your rights.

There are three ways to apply for a U.S. trademark: a "use" application if you have already used the mark in commerce, an "intent-to-use" application if you plan to use it, and a process for international applicants who have registered the mark in another country.

Good advice here can be summarized in the following way: register your domain, use it actively, file for trademark protection, and consult a qualified attorney if there is any doubt about potential conflicts. Spending a little on good legal advice early can prevent costly disputes later.

10. How Much Does It Cost to Register a Domain Name?

The cost of registering a domain name has dropped dramatically over the years and is now remarkably affordable for most businesses.

Registration fees typically range from about $6.99 to over $30 per domain name per year, with some budget services offering names for as little as $5 annually. Occasionally, domain names are included at no extra charge with the purchase of other services such as web hosting packages. The price difference between registrars is often determined by the domain's popularity, the extension selected, and the additional services bundled with registration.

Budget domain registration services typically offer just the basic domain name, but many registrars now include additional features such as free domain parking (holding the name until your site is ready), email forwarding, and domain privacy protection. Privacy protection is an important consideration: when you register a domain, your contact information is stored in a publicly searchable WHOIS database. Many registrars offer a privacy service that masks your personal or business information, reducing the risk of spam and unsolicited outreach.

One important cost consideration is renewal. Domain names require periodic renewal—typically on an annual basis—and allowing a registration to lapse can have serious consequences. Once a domain expires, it enters a redemption period during which reclaiming it may require paying substantial redemption fees. After that window, the domain becomes available to anyone. AllBusiness.com strongly recommends setting up automatic renewal for any domain name important to your business. The small annual cost is trivial compared to the potential loss of a valuable brand asset.

Conclusion on Domain Names

A domain name is far more than a web address—it is one of the most important strategic assets a business can own. From establishing credibility and reinforcing brand identity to attracting organic traffic and supporting long-term marketing efforts, the right domain name can meaningfully contribute to a business's growth and success.

The decisions you make about your domain name, like what to call it, which extension to choose, and whether to invest in an exact match .com, will have lasting consequences for your brand, your marketing costs, and your competitive position in the marketplace.

The good news is that the fundamentals are not complicated. Keep your domain name short, simple, memorable, and aligned with your brand. Prioritize the .com extension. Conduct thorough trademark research before registering, and protect your name legally once you have it. Avoid common mistakes like using hyphens, odd spellings, or names too similar to competitors. And whenever possible, acquire your domain early—ideally at the same time you choose your business name. Domain names are among the most affordable yet most impactful investments a business can make. Treat them accordingly.

Whether it’s questioning top officials, gathering breaking news from court, or live-streaming from the ground, HKFP’s tight-knit team is on the frontlines of Hong Kong’s political twists and turns every day. At the city’s only independent English-language outlet, our journalists are in a privileged position to help write the first draft of history.

All of Team HKFP have a high level of responsibility, independence and freedom to chase their own stories. We have no junior staff – everyone is a multimedia journalist, and there is no such thing as a slow news day. 

HKFP staffers have gone on to work for outlets such as the New York Times, Agence France-Presse, the Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, CNN, the BBC and the Financial Times. If you want to fast-track your career, if you thrive in a fast-paced environment, or wish to help shape the future of the city’s most independent and transparent English-language newsroom, consider applying to join our team.

Our mission: HKFP’s mission is to be the most credible, impartial and independent news outlet on Hong Kong affairs, and to help safeguard press freedom in the city. We seek to amplify the voices of the voiceless whilst bridging the gap between the Chinese and English languages. Read our Annual Report.

Executive Editor

HKFP is seeking an Executive Editor to oversee our daily output and manage the newsroom, beginning in late June.

• Our Executive Editor will edit, polish and fact-check four to five hard news stories per day, and will schedule and promote them across our platforms. They will also edit newsletters, manage the newsroom, and support our Features Editor in overseeing weekend features and our Monitor newsletter.
• Our newsroom leader will help the team plan future coverage, enforce deadlines, monitor local developments, and assist with story ideas.
• They will be tasked with navigating legal risks and political sensitivities alongside the director, and may occasionally be required to write short leads.
• This dynamic role involves a pathway to rapid, performance-based pay rises within the first year, and a promotion to Editor-in-Chief within three years.
• Other than guiding our dedicated team, there are also opportunities for professional development, room to launch side projects (e.g. a podcast) and a chance to have a meaningful impact at a critical time for the city’s media landscape.

Requirements:

• Candidates must have at least two years of experience in a daily news editorial role at a – preferably local – news outlet.
• We are seeking applicants familiar with the Hong Kong political beat, with knowledge of who’s-who and a good understanding of how the government, legislative and judicial systems work. They will have an eye for news, and a comprehension of current political/legal risks.
• Native-level English-language fluency is essential, with no tolerance for errors. Candidates must be self-directed, full of ideas and have the ability to edit news with accuracy and speed. Cantonese language skills would be an advantage, but not essential.
• The ideal candidate would have excellent initiative, time management, and must be a team player.
• Digital skills, knowledge of local law, SEO and analytics would be a bonus.
• Candidates must already have the right to work in, and live in, Hong Kong – we cannot arrange visas.

Remuneration and benefits:

• HKFP sets standards on pay, conditions, benefits and work-life balance – all of which are comparable to international news outlets.
• We offer a competitive starting salary depending upon experience, skills and qualifications.
• 14 days of leave per annum in the first year, rising yearly to 24 days in the fourth year, in addition to all Hong Kong public and statutory holidays.
• International healthcare, dental and physio coverage.
• Mental health support options.
• A secure work laptop, work phone and VPN.
• HKFP staff enjoy the many benefits of working at the Hive co-working spaces.
• Staff receive occasional bonuses, and enjoy weekly opportunities to work remotely from home, or abroad.
• HKFP’s Executive Editor may have the opportunity to represent the company at events and conferences, at home and abroad.

How to apply

• Deadline: May 31, 2026.
• If you meet our requirements, please:
  • 1/ Fill in this application form: https://forms.gle/V8dHrcuDhHkhvmG38
  • 2/ Send your CV, separately, to recruitment@hongkongfp.com.
• Please see: https://hongkongfp.com/ethics, https://hongkongfp.com/about & https://hongkongfp.com/annual-report.
• All applications are read and considered. Successful applicants will be contacted within a week. HKFP’s recruitment process includes two stages – an interview, followed by written tests, reference checks and trial sessions.
• The use of generative AI in application materials will lead to disqualification.
• We encourage candidates from all social and ethnic backgrounds to apply. HKFP does not discriminate, along the lines of age, gender or sexual orientation, religion, race, pregnancy or marital status. See: https://hongkongfp.com/ethics/#diversity-statement

Read more about us here. Read about our impact in our Annual Report.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is offering a HK$10,000 reward for information that may lead to the conviction of who may be responsible for the apparent mutilation and killing of a pet cat.

The cat was suspected to have died from poisoning in Hung Hom after having its tail severed, according to TVB on Sunday.

The two-year-old feline was kept at a funeral parlour on Lo Lung Hang Street in Hung Hom. The manager – who cared for the cat – called the police on Sunday after the pet returned injured. It had only been let out for a matter of minutes.

Several officers responded and are investigating whether animal abuse is involved.

“PETA is urging anyone with information about this incident to come forward to help ensure that whoever committed this attack is held accountable before more animals – or people – are harmed,” a spokesperson for the animal welfare NGO said in a Monday press release.

“Violence against animals is never an isolated issue—it is a well-documented warning sign of a broader capacity for violence that can escalate and pose serious risks to public safety,” added PETA Asia President Jason Baker. “Research consistently shows a strong link between cruelty to animals and violence toward humans. Authorities must act swiftly and send a clear message that such brutality will not be tolerated.”

The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals dispatched staff to help remove the cat’s body. A preliminary examination by a vet suggested the feline’s tail had been severed with a sharp object.

For the fourth consecutive year, a patriotic carnival is being held in Hong Kong’s Victoria Park on the anniversary of the Tiananmen crackdown, the former site of a traditional commemorative candlelit vigil.

The fourth Hometown Market Carnival – jointly organised by Hong Kong’s 30 provincial hometown associations – opened on Wednesday for a five-day run at Victoria Park in Causeway Bay, state-controlled Wen Wei Po reported.

The carnival features 370 booths showcasing Chinese specialities and performances, though it requires visitors to undergo security checks before entering the venue.

Thursday marks the 37th anniversary of the 1989 Tiananmen crackdown.

The Tiananmen crackdown occurred on June 4, 1989, ending months of student-led demonstrations in China. It is estimated that hundreds, perhaps thousands, died when the People’s Liberation Army cracked down on protesters in Beijing.

Before the enactment of the Beijing-imposed national security law, a large-scale candlelit vigil was hosted at Victoria Park every year on the evening of June 4. Members of Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement would remember the dead, as well as call for the democratisation of China and justice for the victims.

On Wednesday, the eve of the 37th anniversary, HKFP saw police surround two performance artists, who attempted to stage subtle performances in Causeway Bay near to the park.

Meanwhile, on the same day, Hong Kong’s officials and lawmakers visited Victoria Park to endorse the patriotic event.

Chief Secretary for Administration Eric Chan appeared at the opening ceremony of the carnival. The No. 2 official said that the event boosted “love for hometowns,” as well as local consumption, Orange News reported.

Starry Lee, president of the Legislative Council (LegCo), led over 50 lawmakers to the carnival on Wednesday afternoon. On her Facebook page, Lee praised the event for not only showcasing Chinese specialities, but also boosting the local economy and enhancing exchanges between Hong Kong and mainland China.

However, some exhibitors cited hot weather when complaining that foot traffic at the carnival was down by 30 per cent compared to last year, HK01 reported.

In June 2020, Hong Kong police banned the Tiananmen vigil gathering at Victoria Park for the first time in 30 years, citing Covid-19 restrictions.

The force imposed the same ban in 2021, nearly a year after the national security law came into effect.

In 2023, a group of 26 hometown associations booked Victoria Park to host the patriotic carnival on the anniversary of the Tiananmen crackdown for the first time.

The Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, which organised the vigils, disbanded in September 2021 after several of its members were arrested.

A Hong Kong court is now hearing a landmark trial of the Alliance and two vigil leaders, Chow Hang-tung and  Lee Cheuk-yan. They are accused of “inciting subversion” under the national security law, an offence that carries a maximum penalty of 10 years behind bars. Another vigil leader – Albert Ho – pleaded guilty when the trial opened in January.

Two out of three journalists say the working environment in Hong Kong has changed “for the worse” in the past year, according to the latest survey by the Foreign Correspondents’ Club.

The 2026 FCC Press Freedom Survey, which received 78 responses from members, found that “67 per cent of respondents said the working environment for them as a journalist had changed for the worse in the last 12 months.”

The FCC pointed out that the survey “happened to take place” after Apple Daily founder Jimmy Lai was convicted and sentenced to jail, as well as Beijing’s national security office in Hong Kong, the Office for Safeguarding National Security (OSNS), summoned representatives of several major foreign media outlets, shortly following the deadly Wang Fuk Court fire.

At the meeting, the OSNS warned that some media organisations had spread false information and smeared the government in reports on the massive blaze at the housing estate in Tai Po, which killed 168 people and displaced thousands of residents.

‘Watershed moment’

One respondent said that the warning by the OSNS to foreign journalists “should be seen as a watershed moment here in Hong Kong. It has created an increased chilling effect.”

About a quarter of respondents said they experienced minor or significant interference in their work, with most describing incidents while covering the Tai Po fire. One journalist said they were told to leave when they were “speaking to survivors in a corner, disturbing no one.”

Another respondent said that the 20-year sentence handed down to Lai “only further chills the local reporting environment.”

More than 50 per cent said sources had become less willing to be quoted during the same period, the survey found.

One respondent was quoted as saying that “the scope of what is ‘acceptable’ in terms of who can be quoted” has narrowed each year.

“It has reached the point where non-political voices who question policy-making or have reservations about certain aspects of it will get cut or reduced significantly by editors,” the respondent added.

See also: Hong Kong press freedom rebounds slightly from historic low, reflecting ‘resilience,’ journalists’ union says

Fewer respondents had a clear sense of what subjects are sensitive in the most recent survey, down from 78 per cent last year to 65 per cent this year, with one respondent saying the Beijing-imposed national security law “is still rather fluid and capricious.”

Half of the respondents said they were “slightly concerned” about arrest or prosecution in relation to their work as journalists, while 41 said they were not. The remaining 9 per cent said they were very concerned.

A third of respondents said their organisations had downsized in Hong Kong. Among them, a third cited the political and legal environment as well as corporate cost-cutting.

But 17 per cent of respondents said their organisations had increased staff in the city, with 40 per cent of them citing “the growing importance of Hong Kong” and increased investment.

“Press freedom remains engrained in Hong Kong law, but as is apparent from the results of our survey, the sentiment for working journalists in the city has been in flux,” said FCC President Morgan Davis.

“The FCC supports journalists’ fundamental right to conduct their work freely and without fear of intimidation or harassment,” the club said in its statement.

“We will continue to safeguard press freedom in the city, via engagement with the journalism community and relevant stakeholders, in order to make sure that Hong Kong remains an international hub for media, business and finance.”

Lam Hing Street in Kowloon Bay was filled with billowing smoke during the lunchtime rush hour on Wednesday, after a stove overheated at a restaurant.

Police told HKFP on Wednesday that eight people were on the premises at the time – all were evacuated, and no injuries were reported.

Smoke from a kitchen stove was thought to have spread rapidly through ventilation shafts. A dramatic clip on social media appeared to show smoke engulfing the area outside, reducing visibility.

The incident occurred at around 12.43pm at a ground-floor eatery.

- Ozymandias - posted a photo:

Diyarbakır '15

Hong Kong Free Press journalism has been nominated for three prestigious Society of Publishers in Asia (SOPA) Awards – a new record for the newspaper.

HKFP photojournalist Kyle Lam’s five shots of the Tai Po fire tragedy were nominated in the Excellence in Photography category.

In the Carlos Tejada Award for Excellence in Investigative Reporting category, HKFP’s investigation into local bookstores facing simultaneous tax audits was selected as a finalist.

And Hans Tse & Kelly Ho‘s reporting on how residents of Wang Fuk Court pondered their future a month after last November’s blaze was also shortlisted for Excellence in Feature Writing.

The finalists were selected from a competitive pool of over 700 entries across English, Chinese, and Bahasa Indonesia categories, according to a Thursday SOPA press release.

“This year’s entries once again highlight the strength and diversity of our industry, with a growing number of submissions from global, regional, and small media organizations,” the press release said. “From deeply reported investigations to innovative storytelling formats, the calibre of work continues to demonstrate the vital role journalism plays in informing and connecting our communities.”

Established in 1999, the SOPA Awards recognise editorial excellence in both new media and traditional journalism in the Asia-Pacific region. HKFP has won three prizes in previous years.

The winners will be announced on June 18 at the JW Marriott Hotel. Karen Hao – award-winning journalist and best-selling author of Empire of AI – will address the event.

HKFP’s award-winning reporting