U.S. and Hong Kong (2005)

State Department Briefing, August 17

State Department spokesman Sean McCormack briefed the press August 17.

Following is the transcript of the State Department briefing:

(begin transcript)

U.S. Department of State
Daily Press Briefing
Wednesday, August 17, 2005
12:44 p.m. EDT

Briefer: Sean McCormack, Spokesman

[ ...Intervening Text... ]

QUESTION: I have several questions of -- about freedom of press. One is, the U.S.-based newspaper, Epoch Times, was banned in Malaysia by the Malaysia Government recently because they think it's not good to have it -- because they think it's not good for their relationship with Chinese Government. And the second, I think you may have said something about that that is the accusation of Singapore journalist, Ching Cheong. I don't know whether you have anything on them. And also, there's another two rare incidents, I should say, my Chinese media colleague who showed their courage recently. One is a group resignation of editors and reporters of a state-run newspaper, I should say. It's called Economic Review. And also, the chief editor of another state-run newspaper in Beijing, China News Daily, published a long letter strongly criticizing the authority's suppression of freedom of press.

MR. MCCORMACK: On the second of your questions, I would say that we have expressed concern about Mr. Ching's detention to the Chinese officials, most recently in Beijing on August 8th. Acting Assistant Secretary for Democracy and Human Rights and Labor, Glyn Davies, raised U.S. concerns during bilateral meetings on the human rights issues. And to date, the Chinese officials have not responded to our requests for information on this case. And Mr. Ching has been formally charged with espionage, but there's no indication of when his case may go to court.

QUESTION: How about --

MR. MCCORMACK: At this point.

QUESTION: How about the other cases?

MR. MCCORMACK: On the last -- on the third of your questions, I don't have anything for you. On the, with respect to Malaysia, I think that our steadfast support for freedom of the press and the importance of freedom of press around the world is well known. We speak out on this issue frequently. And we have expressed in the past our concerns about some Malaysian laws with respect to freedom of the press and curbs that it may put on freedom of the press.

Okay.

QUESTION: Thank you.

[ ...Intervening Text... ]

(The briefing was concluded at 1:20 p.m.)

(end transcript)