Asia Insight — Season 1, Episode 5: Writers Fight Publishing Ban in HK

Episode synopsis

When Hong Kong was returned to mainland China from the U.K. in 1997, it was promised 50 years of autonomy and different political, judicial and economic systems than mainland China. This gave freedom of speech to mainland writers as well because they could publish banned material in Hong Kong. But as the Chinese economy grows, and gains stronger ties with Hong Kong, writers publishing in Hong Kong have been receiving various forms of pressure. Some writers have even been detained after their works have been published. Others have had emails checked and phone calls bugged. This episode of Asia Insight followed many Hong Kong and mainland-based writers and publishers fighting to protect their freedom in a changing region.

About Asia Insight

An in-depth portrait of Asia today, covering its dynamism as a center of growth as well as its traditions tossed around by the advance of globalization.

More episodes from Season 1

• E1Migrants Gain Upper Hand
• E2Indonesia's First National Car
• E3Diversifying Shanghai
• E4Vietnam's Court Music Revival
• E6Mongolia's Forgotten Slum Dwellers
• E7The "80's Writers" in China
• E8Hydropower for Indonesian Villagers
• E9Energy-Hungry Nepal
• E10China's Job-Hunting Inn
• E11The Year of the Dragon Baby Boom
• E12The Dancing Prisoners
• E13Singing Out for Change in China