Hong Kong journalists protest privacy law

Journalists in Hong Kong urged the island’s government to drop a proposed law that would limit access to information about company ownership in a petition sent to five local newspapers, Reuters reported. The petition carried the signatures of 1,768 reporters, editors, media teachers and students who oppose the law, which would make it more difficult to trace the home addresses and personal identification numbers of company directors. If the proposition goes through, “Hong Kong’s claim to be the regional hub of information, as well as a financial center, will be jeopardized,” said Mak Yin-ting, chairwoman of the Hong Kong Journalists Association. The Financial Services, the Treasury Bureau and the Companies Registry proposed the bill to enhance protection of the privacy of information amid growing media scrutiny of the assets of China’s leaders.