Hong Kong Crackdown: Dissidents Struggle To Keep Civic Culture Alive
Hong Kong’s political and social landscape is undergoing profound change, as high-profile cases and tightening laws reshape the city’s freedoms. The sentencing of media tycoon Jimmy Lai and the arrest of bookstore staff under national security provisions have raised concerns about the balance between security and civil liberties. At the same time, Hong Kong’s global press freedom ranking has fallen sharply, reflecting a shifting media environment. Beyond the city, these developments are also affecting Hong Kong’s diaspora, with growing fears over transnational pressure and long-arm jurisdiction. In this episode, we examine the realities inside Hong Kong today, the impact on its people at home and abroad and what the future may hold for the city’s identity and freedoms. *Recorded on April 30, 2026 at 3:45pm Taiwan Standard Time Host: Wen-Ti Sung Producer: Tina Hsu Our guests: Kacey Kwok-choi Wong - Visual Artist and Former Hong Kong Polytechnic University Assistant Professor Lake Lui - National Taiwan University Sociology Professor
