Press Freedom Under Threat in Macau: Journalist Denied Access to Corruption Retrial

Macau’s Press Freedom Under Fire: Journalist Barred from High-Profile Corruption Retrial

Macau, China, Nov. 12, 2025 (Lusa) — In a troubling development for press freedom in Macau, the Secretary for Administration and Justice, Wong Sio Chak, refrained from commenting on the controversial barring of a journalist from covering the retrial of former deputy prosecutor Kong Chi, who faces serious corruption charges.

At a press conference on Wednesday, Wong stated, “I don’t know anything specific; I only know what was mentioned in the report,” referring to the incident that has raised eyebrows among media advocates and the public alike. The journalist in question, Ian Sio Tou, is not only the editor-in-chief of the online newspaper All About Macau but also the president of the Macau Journalists Association.

According to reports from the Portuguese-language public television channel TDM, officials from the Court of Second Instance (TSI) denied Ian entry to the trial, citing “orders from above.” This decision has sparked outrage, particularly as it occurred even when Ian attempted to attend as a private citizen.

Wong attributed the decision to the Macau Government Media Office, which operates under the direct supervision of Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai. “I have nothing further to add,” Wong concluded, leaving many questions unanswered.

Kong Chi is currently being retried after a previous conviction in February, where he was sentenced to 21 years in prison for passive corruption, abuse of power, malfeasance, and breach of judicial secrecy. The case has drawn significant public interest, making the journalist’s exclusion all the more contentious.

The situation is further complicated by the impending closure of All About Macau, announced at the end of October due to “increasing pressure,” resource shortages, and ongoing legal challenges against three of its journalists. This follows a troubling incident in April when two reporters from the same outlet were detained while attempting to enter the local parliament.

The Journalists and Communication Professionals in Asia (JOCPA) expressed “deep concern” over the silence of authorities and international institutions, including Portugal and the European Union. JOCPA President Josep Solano emphasized the moral and historical responsibility of these entities to uphold the rule of law and protect fundamental rights, including press freedom.

Since Macau’s transition from Portuguese to Chinese administration in 1999, an agreement was established to maintain fundamental rights and freedoms for the first 50 years. However, the recent actions against journalists signal a worrying trend that threatens these principles.

Beh Lih Yi, Asia leader for the Committee to Protect Journalists, lamented the closure of All About Macau, stating, “It is a blow to press freedom and seriously undermines the public’s right to independent information. This is indicative of the rapid deterioration of the media environment in Macau.”

As the retrial of Kong Chi unfolds, the implications for press freedom and the public’s right to information remain critical issues that demand attention both locally and internationally.