On the morning of June 20, less than two weeks before the fifth anniversary of the promulgation of the National Security Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (NSL), I watched Phoenix Television’s morning news. I was impressed by a story about a Hong Kong resident who was stuck in Jerusalem because of the Israel-Iran conflict. She was evacuated with the assistance of Chinese embassy staff in Israel, and shortly after her evacuation, the building where she had been staying was bombed, presumably by Iranian missiles. In an interview with Phoenix TV, she expressed deep gratitude for the lifesaving assistance she received from the embassy staff, who escorted her out of Israel.

At a time when some Hong Kong residents are unappreciative of their motherland, this story deserves to be publicized for national education, if not to instill some patriotic fervor, highlighting the central government’s genuine concern for all its nationals. Yet none of the major local newspapers or television stations bothered to report on it.

As Xia Baolong, director of the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, and the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, pointed out in his keynote address at a June 21 forum celebrating the fifth anniversary of the NSL, we should not assume that Hong Kong is now safe from any national security threat, nor that there is no longer a need to stay alert to any national security threat. He said that “soft resistance” and hostile forces overseas are still plotting to undermine Hong Kong.

If a thorough review of the causes of the 2019-20 insurrection riots is ever conducted, it will no doubt expose the negative influence exerted by some local media outlets in instigating the unrest. The now-defunct Apple Daily was a primary actor, but others are still operating today, continuing their “soft resistance” against national security.

One notable observation is that many staff members of the local media outlets are pro-Western and tend to adopt the narratives of the Western mainstream media. For example, while it is clear that Israel struck Iran, breaching all international laws, some local media outlets echo the Western narrative that justifies Israel’s bombings to prevent Iran’s alleged production of nuclear weapons. They fail to mention that Israel has long possessed nuclear weapons while Iran’s nuclear program is subject to international monitoring by both the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and an international treaty with major Western powers. Iran has signed the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), whereas Israel has not allowed any monitoring of its nuclear program by the IAEA and has refused to sign the NPT.

Similarly, when US President Donald Trump criticizes China, his remarks are fully reported by some local media outlets. Disasters on the Chinese mainland, such as large fires or building collapses, receive prominent coverage, while China’s achievements are often overlooked.

Even in sports news, when Chinese players win major competitions in events like table tennis and badminton — achievements that are increasingly hard-won because of fierce competitions — these victories are not always reported by local media, while their failures are highlighted. I am perplexed as to why daily sports news on local TV or radio stations consistently focuses on the NBA and soccer.

Hence, Hong Kong residents should also watch Phoenix TV and CCTV if they wish to have more balanced world news.

I fully support the Hong Kong SAR government’s recent initiative to vet all restaurants during license renewals and revoke those found to be in violation of the spirit of national security. We are all aware that many restaurants actively supported the 2019-20 insurrection, and we can still see thinly veiled signs promoting “Hong Kong independence” within some of these establishments.

The same scrutiny should apply to local media. The presence of “soft resistance” acts is still quite evident. One local newspaper, dubbed “Apple Daily 2.0”, has been regularly criticized by Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung for allegedly spreading false reports against the government. Additionally, a local radio station continues to employ commentators known for their anti-China rhetoric, even after they have moved abroad. Even at the government-owned Radio Television Hong Kong, I noted a commentator who regularly criticizes chairman Mao Zedong and the “cultural revolution” (1966-76), claiming he is merely recounting history, while his true motive appears to be instilling hatred toward the Communist Party of China.

So, what should be done? I propose that when television and radio stations’ licenses come up for renewal, clear conditions should be imposed to ensure compliance with the spirit of the National Security Law. These stations must not serve as subversive bases for conducting “soft resistance”. One condition should be that all their editors and commentators undergo national security vetting, similar to civil servants. This is fair as someone deemed a national security risk would not be employed as a civil servant; they should also be banned from joining the media, which wields significant influence over public opinion.

Such a move will in all likelihood be criticized by China-bashers as suppression of freedom of speech or expression; but they can never blur the line between acts endangering national security and the legitimate exercise of freedoms, which are fully respected by the SAR government and protected by the Basic Law as well as the national security laws.

My final suggestion, which I have made before, is that sports can effectively promote patriotism, as evidenced in national soccer matches. While RTHK television’s audience ratings remain low, these valuable resources could be better utilized by converting one of their channels into a dedicated 24-hour sports channel, focusing on major sports events featuring Chinese mainland and Hong Kong athletes. There is no greater satisfaction or sense of pride than watching them win medals while the national flag flies high at the award ceremony!

The author is an honorary fellow of HKU Space and Hong Kong Metropolitan University, and a council member of the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macao Studies. 

The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.