Hong Kong Watch website blocked by internet firms in Hong Kong
Reports are emerging that Hong Kong Watch’s website can no longer be accessed through certain networks in Hong Kong.
We are hearing that the website cannot be accessed via PCCW, CMHK, HKBN and Netvigator networks among others, and that the behaviour is a result of DNS tampering.
Several other websites including HKChroniclees.com, Transitional Justice Commission, and HK Charter 2021 have been taken down in a similar way in recent months. According to a tweet by Nathan Hammond, an internet freedom expert, “This removal matches patterns first seen in the delisting of http://hkchronicles.com. We can safely assume that this removal from DNS was requested by the Hong Kong Police.”
Benedict Rogers, CEO of Hong Kong Watch, said:
“If this is not just a technical malfunction, and Hong Kongers will no longer be able to access our website because of the National Security Law, then this is a serious blow to internet freedom. With the steady drip of website removals, there are fears that China could begin introducing its Great Internet Firewall into the city. With time this could have serious ramifications for the continued presence of western technology companies in the city.
The city’s future as a financial hub will depend on its access to free information flows. Journalists must now verify with the Hong Kong Government why this website has been taken down.”
香港監察網站被香港網絡供應商封鎖
有消息指網民無法透過部分香港的網絡供應商瀏覽香港監察的網站。
據報香港的網民無法透過電訊盈科、中國移動、香港寬頻和網上行等網絡供應商瀏覽香港監察的網站。這是由於更改網域名稱系統(DNS)所致。
在過去幾個月，香港編年史、促進轉型正義委員會、香港約章2021等網站都以相似的方式被移除。網絡自由專家 Nathan Hammond 在其 Twitter 帖文寫道︰「今次網站被移除，與香港編年史早前首先被移除的模式相符。我們可以有把握地假設，是香港警方要求在網域名稱系統中刪除網站。」
香港監察行政總裁羅傑斯表示：
「如果這不是技術故障，而是香港市民將因為國安法而無法再瀏覽我們的網站，那麼這是對網絡自由的嚴重打擊。隨著不斷有網站被刪除，大家擔心中國可能會開始將其網絡防火牆引入香港。久而久之，這可能會對西方國家的科技公司在香港持續發展產生嚴重影響。
香港作為金融中心的未來，將取決於資訊能否繼續自由地流動。記者們現在必須向香港政府查核為何我們的網站被移除。」
In the Media
Ticker News: Benedict Rogers talks about media censorship in Hong Kong (17 February 2022)
Al Jazeera: As ‘Great Firewall’ looms, fears for Hong Kong’s free internet (17 February 2022)
UCA News: ‘The total implosion of Hong Kong's freedoms gathers pace’, Benedict Rogers (17 February 2022)
Reuters: Hong Kong rights group says website not accessible through some networks (15 February 2022)
The Guardian: Fears of online censorship in Hong Kong as rights group website goes down (15 February 2022)
Radio Free Asia: Hong Kong tech giants 'censor' UK rights website amid firewall fears (15 February 2022)
Hong Kong Free Press: Website of NGO Hong Kong Watch partially blocked amid rising fears of internet censorship (15 February 2022)
The Register: UK charity Hong Kong Watch says its website suddenly can't be seen in Hong Kong (15 February 2022)
美國之音: 英國人權組織“香港監察”網站遭香港封鎖 再惹網絡自由憂慮 (15 February 2022)