Why I’m Still Here, Covering News in Hong Kong
Look, I’m gonna be honest with you. I should’ve left Hong Kong years ago. But here I am, still writing, still covering news, still dealing with the same old nonsense. Why? I’m not completley sure. Maybe it’s stupidity. Maybe it’s commitment. Maybe I just like the chaos.
I started out in 2003, fresh-faced and eager, working for some tiny publication nobody’s heard of. Let’s call it the Hong Kong Herald. I thought I was gonna change the world. Ha! That’s a good one.
Back then, it was different. The news scene was… I mean, it was still messy, but it was our mess. We knew the rules, we knew the players. Now? It’s a circus. A completley bonkers, out-of-control circus.
That Time I Got Yelled At by a Politician
Remember Marcus Chan? No, of course you don’t. He was some mid-level politician back in 2018. I interviewed him about the new transport infrastructure news update—you know, the one that was supposed to be this big game-changer (sorry, I know, but it’s true). Anyway, I asked him a simple question: “So, Marcus, how exactly are you gonna pay for this?”
You’d think that was a fair question, right? Wrong. He lost it. Started yelling, face all red, spittle flying. “You’re twisting my words!” he shouted. I was just sitting there, pen in hand, thinking, “Dude, I haven’t even written the story yet.”
But that’s the thing about politics here. It’s not about answers. It’s about avoiding questions. And honestly, that’s gotten worse than ever.
The Newsroom Is a Warzone
Let me tell you about my colleague, Dave. Dave’s a good guy. Smart, hardworking, always willing to help. About three months ago, he got assigned to cover a protest. You know, one of those big ones where everyone’s throwing stuff and the police are in full riot gear.
Dave’s out there, taking notes, trying to stay neutral (which is basically impossible in this town), when some cop shoves him. Hard. Dave falls, scrapes his knee, and the cop just walks away. No apology, no nothing. Just business as usual.
So Dave writes about it. He’s not naming names, not pointing fingers, just reporting what happened. And what does his editor say? “Dave, we can’t run this. It’s too… controversial.” Controversial? It’s a fact! But no, it’s gotta be buried. Because God forbid we upset the wrong people.
And that’s the other thing about Hong Kong news. It’s not just about the chaos outside. It’s the chaos inside too. The second-guessing, the fear, the constant walk on eggshells.
But Here’s the Thing…
Despite all that, I’m still here. Why? I don’t know. Maybe it’s because I’m a glutton for punishment. Maybe it’s because I still believe, deep down, that someone’s gotta tell the truth. Even if it’s just a little bit of it.
I mean, look at what’s happening right now. The protests, the politics, the constant back-and-forth. It’s exhausting. It’s frustrating. But it’s also… I don’t know, kinda fascinating? In a train-wreck-you-can’t-look-away-from way.
And yeah, maybe I’m biased. Maybe I’m too close to it all. But I’ve seen a lot, and I’ve learned a lot. And I’m not gonna pretend I’m neutral. Because that’s not how this works. You can’t be neutral in Hong Kong. Not anymore.
So here I am. Still writing, still yelling into the void, still hoping that someone out there gives a damn. And who knows? Maybe they do. Maybe they really do.
About the Author: Sarah Lee has been a journalist in Hong Kong for over 20 years. She’s covered everything from politics to protests, and she’s not afraid to admit she’s seen better days. When she’s not writing, she’s probably complaining about the weather or the state of the world. You can find her on Twitter @sarahlee_hkn or not, because honestly, she’s not that interesting.
