>Beijing’s powerful security agency in Hong Kong has summoned journalists from international media to inform them it will not tolerate “trouble-making”, after critical coverage of the deadly[ apartment complex fire](https://www.theguardian.com/news/hong-kong-apartment-fires) that has left the territory reeling.
>In the meeting, which was attended by the New York Times and Agence France-Presse, an official accused journalists of tainting the government. The official did not give specific examples of coverage and did not take questions, according to AFP.
>An OSNS statement posted online shortly after the meeting accused some foreign media of having “disregarded facts, spread false information, distorted and smeared the government’s disaster relief and aftermath work”.
>[…]
>The online OSNS statement urged journalists to “not cross the legal red line”.
>“The office will not tolerate the actions of all anti-China and trouble-making elements in [Hong Kong](https://www.theguardian.com/world/hong-kong),” adding: “Don’t say we didn’t warn you.”
>Semi-autonomous Hong Kong was returned from the UK to [China](https://www.theguardian.com/world/china) in 1997, and operates under a “one-country, two-systems” framework. It has long prided itself on liberties not available on the mainland, such as a free press and the ability to demonstrate. However, those freedoms have been eroded since the wide-ranging 2020 National Security Law, which gave Beijing sweeping powers to curtail dissent.
>Saturday’s statement accused some in the media of having “attacked and interfered with” the legislative election, which will be held on Sunday. Hong Kong’s electoral system was revamped in 2021 to ensure that only “patriots” could hold office, meaning pro-China candidates.
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>Beijing’s powerful security agency in Hong Kong has summoned journalists from international media to inform them it will not tolerate “trouble-making”, after critical coverage of the deadly[ apartment complex fire](https://www.theguardian.com/news/hong-kong-apartment-fires) that has left the territory reeling.
>Senior reporters from several outlets operating in the city were called to the meeting by the Office for Safeguarding National Security (OSNS), which was set up [by Beijing in 2020](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/21/hong-kongs-security-laws-what-are-they-and-why-are-they-so-controversial).
>In the meeting, which was attended by the New York Times and Agence France-Presse, an official accused journalists of tainting the government. The official did not give specific examples of coverage and did not take questions, according to AFP.
>An OSNS statement posted online shortly after the meeting accused some foreign media of having “disregarded facts, spread false information, distorted and smeared the government’s disaster relief and aftermath work”.
>[…]
>The online OSNS statement urged journalists to “not cross the legal red line”.
>“The office will not tolerate the actions of all anti-China and trouble-making elements in [Hong Kong](https://www.theguardian.com/world/hong-kong),” adding: “Don’t say we didn’t warn you.”
>Semi-autonomous Hong Kong was returned from the UK to [China](https://www.theguardian.com/world/china) in 1997, and operates under a “one-country, two-systems” framework. It has long prided itself on liberties not available on the mainland, such as a free press and the ability to demonstrate. However, those freedoms have been eroded since the wide-ranging 2020 National Security Law, which gave Beijing sweeping powers to curtail dissent.
>The OSNS [warned earlier this week](https://www.theguardian.com/news/2025/dec/04/hong-kong-fire-death-toll-protective-netting-remove) against what it claimed were “external forces” threatening to exploit the fire, as well as “anti-China media organisations”.
>Saturday’s statement accused some in the media of having “attacked and interfered with” the legislative election, which will be held on Sunday. Hong Kong’s electoral system was revamped in 2021 to ensure that only “patriots” could hold office, meaning pro-China candidates.
Further reading:
[Hong Kong fire came after contractor safety breaches and a residents’ revolt | Reuters](https://www.reuters.com/world/china/hong-kong-fire-came-after-contractor-safety-breaches-residents-revolt-2025-12-06/)
[Hong Kong’s deadliest fire in decades followed a year of safety complaints | Reuters](https://www.reuters.com/world/china/hong-kongs-deadliest-fire-decades-followed-year-safety-complaints-2025-11-28/)
[Officials Had Been Warned for Over a Year Before Hong Kong Fire – The New York Times](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/28/world/asia/hong-kong-fire-officials-warned.html)
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