Radio Free Asia reported that Leung Chun-ying, the Chief Executive of Hong Kong recently had his lawyer send a letter to Apple Daily claiming that the paper incorrectly reported Leung’s alleged corruption cases and that the report affected his right to stand for reelection next year. Leung demanded Apple Daily to withdraw the news report and issue an apology. In the article, RFA published interviews with a couple candidates regarding Leung’s claim. One Hong Kong resident said that as a news media, Apple Daily has the right to expose Leung’s financial dealings. A dissident from An Hui Province said that, as a public figure, Leung is subject to media exposure and, furthermore, Leung is clearly using his power to threaten the media and freedom of the press. As to the rumor that Leung is an underground communist Party member, he felt that the chief executive was never publicly elected. Rather, he was chosen from a close circle that Beijing monitored. It is, therefore, an unfortunate, sad, and hopeless situation for the democracy in Hong Kong. The article continued with the observation that Leung chose the violent suppression of the “Occupy Central” movement in Hong Kong, which just further proves his close ties with the mainland. Therefore it is obvious that people do not want him to win re-election.

Source: Radio Free Asia, October 1, 2016                                                                                   http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/gangtai/ql1-10012016124437.html

On September 30, Xinhua published an article which stated that, in the 2016 report on government work, media coverage had been raised to the level of strategic importance. Therefore, the article continued, it can be considered a challenge and opportunity for main stream media in the Internet era when people participate more actively in public affairs. The article praised the official media outlets especially the central media stations such as Xinhua and said that they have been keeping up with the new media forms and have been playing an influential role in guiding the trending topics in society. According to the article, main stream media should effectively play an authoritative and professional role in order to be more interactive and to bridge the gap between the people and the government.

Source: Xinhua, September 30, 2016
http://news.xinhuanet.com/yuqing/2016-09/30/c_129308276.htm

On September 20, 2016, Caixin, China’s leading provider of business and financial news and information, published a special report titled, “Chen Guangbiao: ‘No. One Philanthropist’ or ‘No. One Crook?'”

Caixin, which is considered to have reliable sources from within the CCP Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, revealed in the report that Chen has to make himself available to authorities at any moment to cooperate with the investigation of Ling Jihua, former director of the CCP Central Commission General Office. In reporting on Chen’s business and political circles, Caixin disclosed his connection with Li Dongsheng, who was removed from his position as deputy minister of Public Security and as director of the office of the Central Leading Group on Dealing with Heretical Religions, due to corruption.

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