Hong Kong's news organizations are facing new problems. Recent court cases show that it is becoming harder to express different opinions. The conviction of an older man and a long prison sentence for a famous media boss show a growing worry. These events have made people in other countries concerned. Local media groups are also being very quiet.
A recent case involves Kwok Yin-sang. He is 68 years old and is the father of an activist who is wanted by the police. Mr. Kwok was found guilty of breaking a national security law. This was because he tried to manage his daughter's money. The government said this was against the law. His daughter, who works for a group in Washington, said this was a way to stop her. She said she will keep working for her cause.
This case happened after Jimmy Lai received a very long prison sentence. Mr. Lai is 78 years old. He started the *Apple Daily* newspaper, which is now closed. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison. This was for sedition and working with other countries. Many people think this was done to stop a strong voice for democracy. The *Apple Daily* newspaper closed in 2021. This was a big problem for different news voices in Hong Kong.
The news media in Hong Kong has not said much about Mr. Lai's sentence. Instead of strong criticism, many are quietly accepting it. This lack of public protest shows there is less space for important discussions. One person said they could not speak freely about the *Apple Daily* sentence. This silence is because people are afraid. The security law has a big effect.
The conviction of Mr. Kwok has brought criticism from other countries. Some believe the government is targeting families of activists. The government said that helping someone who has run away is illegal. Mr. Kwok tried to take money from an insurance policy. This is now a key part of this situation. Jimmy Lai's long sentence shows how powerful the national security law is. It makes people worry about the future of free news.