Latest news with #TimHamlett
HKFP
11-07-2025
- General
- HKFP
Existing monthly donor? How to activate your HKFP account and 8 benefits
Thank you for backing HKFP – if you are an existing monthly donor, you may now activate your new account on our main website to enjoy Google ad-free browsing and better manage your newsletter subscriptions. Direct credit/debit card donors (via Stripe) – click for guide. Using your HKFP donor email address, you'll need to activate your account to manage your donation, newsletters and enjoy all benefits. Logging in: At the top-right of any HKFP page, click 'Sign in.' Enter the donor email address you previously used with HKFP. Check your email inbox for a 6-digit code to verify your identity. Type or paste that code into the form and click 'sign in.' You will see your existing monthly donation under 'My Subscription.' Any trouble? Please contact us: Patreon, bank transfer and Google Reader Revenue donor – click for guide. If we have your email address on record, we may have set up your account already. Using your HKFP donor email address, you may activate your account to manage your newsletters and enjoy all benefits. If you are unable to log in, please contact us and we will set you up! Logging in: At the top-right of any HKFP page, click 'Sign in.' Check your email inbox for a 6-digit code to verify your identity. Type or paste that code into the form and click 'sign in.' You will see your existing monthly donation under 'My Subscription.' Prefer to set a password? Visit 'My Account' at the top-right after logging in. Existing HK$150+/month donor? You will also be eligible for our eight new benefits. All monthly donors should have received a welcome email on Friday, July 11, 2025, following our transition to a new system. If you did not, or if our records are inaccurate, please check your spambox or contact donor support: 8 new benefits for HK$150+/month members HKFP Patrons are being rebranded as HKFP Members. For monthly donors of HK$150 or more, we are offering eight new benefits as we celebrate a decade of publishing: 1. Exclusive HKFP deer keyring or tote. Our mascot derives from the Chinese expression 'to point at a deer and call it a horse' – which refers to being deceptive for ill gain. HKFP will always call a deer a deer, and now you can own an exclusive HKFP deer keyring – designed from scratch by HKFP. Alternatively, opt for heavy duty HKFP tote bag. (Apologies, no US shipping). 2. Exclusive columns by Tim Hamlett. HKFP's Tim Hamlett is penning extra columns exclusively for HKFP members. Sign up to receive sharp analysis on local affairs via email. 3. Previews of HKFP original reporting. Receive regular previews of our exclusive features, interviews and explainers via email, a day before they arrive on our website. 4. Merch drops and discounts. Exclusive access to merch store drops, and up to 15% off. 5. 'Behind the scenes' newsroom insights. How do we gather the news? What does a day look like at HKFP? Does HKFP self-censor? How to survive a chief executive press conference? To mark a decade of HKFP, our editor-in-chief will be sharing regular newsroom insights with members. 6. A chance to join monthly newsroom tours/Q&As. Join us for an after-hours peek of our mini-newsroom in Kennedy Town, then take part in a Q&A with HKFP's founder – ask us (almost!) anything. Regular events are first-come-first-served, offered to a dozen members at a time. 7. Early access to our Annual & Transparency Report. 94% of our income comes from donors, so HKFP Members are first in line to see our Annual Report and Transparency Report every January. They include an overview of our achievements each year, and full details of our income and spending. 8. Third-party banner ads disabled for all donors. All third-party Google banner ads are disabled for donors of any amount. PLUS: For donor support, all HKFP Members have a direct line to our director. Thanks for staying with us! Your regular backing is more precious than ever to our team in 2025. Monthly donors are part of the 0.3% of regular readers – around 1,000 supporters – who help us keep the lights on. As we tackle a four-year deficit, our membership relaunch comes at a critical time. Thank you for your ongoing support. Your direct contributions add up to 94% of our income. 78% of our spending goes on paying our talented, award-winning team of independent local journalists, who remain on-the-ground in Hong Kong. See how your donations power HKFP. Our costs have risen and our resources have been stretched as HKFP has battled harassment, intimidation and false complaints over the past year. This was topped with 'random' government inspections, faced by much of our sector, including tax office scrutiny (see our statement.) By supporting us monthly, you give us a predictable income that allows us to navigate the turbulence. Despite the challenges, HKFP's dedicated team has been able to reach the 10-year milestone thanks solely to supporters like you. Thank you once again for safeguarding our newsroom and helping us occupy the remaining space for press freedom. Donor Frequently Asked Questions: I'm already a monthly donor or HKFP 'Patron' – can I access the new benefits? Yes – All existing donors of HK$150+ are entitled to the new benefits. Our previous fundraising microsite has been retired, and your donor account has been migrated to HKFP's main website – click here to see how to access your new account. PayPal donors will need to cancel their monthly donation at and add a fresh account to their HKFP profile – see our guide. If you would you like an HKFP deer plush keyring, or have any trouble, please just email us: How can I adjust or cancel my monthly contribution? You may alter or and cancel your monthly contribution by signing in and adjusting ' My subscription ' settings under ' My account.' To change your monthly donation amount: Go to My Subscription and click ' change price.' Click ' Donate: Monthly ' and enter your new amount. Click ' Switch subscription.' Then go to ' View basket ' to confirm the upgrade. Click ' Proceed to checkout ' then ' Switch subscription ' after checking your details and agreeing to the terms. Expect an email showing your previous monthly donation as 'HK$0' followed by your new donation. To change your payment method or switch cards: Go to My Subscription and click ' change payment.' If you have never logged in before, just enter the email address you used for your donation and send an access code to your email. Those who donated via PayPal before our June 30, 2025 relaunch may need to cancel via if they have not activated their HKFP account. If you have further enquiries, please email us – we usually respond within 24 hours on working days. I'm a donor of HK$150+/month but have not received news of benefits. New donors: Please allow up to three working days to be contacted by our founder and added to our HKFP Member benefits newsletter. Existing donors: If you joined us before our June 30, 2025 relaunch, HKFP Member newsletters containing your benefits should be with you from mid-July onwards. If not, please contact us. Legacy PayPal donor: Those who donated via PayPal before our June 30, 2025 relaunch may need to activate their HKFP account to ensure access to benefits. If you have further enquiries, please email us – we usually respond within 24 hours on working days. Is my data safe? Will you share or sell donor information? Never. Your payment card details are stored securely on Stripe/PayPal servers. We do not sell, trade, or rent users' personal payment data to others. Read our full T&Cs and Privacy Policy here. What is your return/refund policy on merchandise? If you are not 100% satisfied with your purchase, you can return the product within 30 days and get a full refund. Anything you return must be in the same condition you received it, unused and in the original packaging. Please keep any receipt. Online refunds may take up to two weeks. Read our full T&Cs and Privacy Policy here. Are donations tax deductible? Although HKFP is a non-profit, we are not tax exempt, as Hong Kong law does not allow media outlets to register for this status. Unfortunately, donations cannot be deducted from your tax bill. Can I donate anonymously? No, as the law requires that we know who donates. Like any company, HKFP is legally obliged to keep records of income/spending for bookkeeping purposes – it also obliges us to keep records secure and private. Accounting records are overseen by our accountant and yearly auditors, and we respect the anti-money laundering ordinance so may request 'know your client' information from larger contributors. In the event of a tax inspection, we obfuscate donor names. Can I donate over HK$50,000 per year? Yes. HK$50,000 is our limit for donations via our website. If you could like to support us with a larger sum, please contact us. We respect the anti-money laundering ordinance so may request 'know your client' information from larger contributors. HKFP also welcomes donations-in-kind, should you wish to support us indirectly in the long-term. Managing donations To see a record of payments made, click on Orders. Verify your account or manage your newsletter subscriptions under Newsletters. To change your payment method or switch cards, go to My Subscription and click ' change payment.' To request account deletion or reset your password under My Account. To change your monthly donation amount: Go to My Subscription and click ' change price.' Click ' Donate: Monthly ' and enter your new amount. Click ' Switch subscription.' Then go to ' View basket ' to confirm the upgrade. Click ' Proceed to checkout ' then ' Switch subscription ' after checking your details and agreeing to the terms. Want to join us?
HKFP
05-07-2025
- General
- HKFP
Existing donors: Accessing your account
Existing supporter? Your donor account on HKFP's support platform has been transferred to a new login system on our main website. This is to enable ad-free browsing for all donors, and 7 more benefits for new and existing monthly HK$150+ supporters as we mark our 10th anniversary. Existing credit/debit card (Stripe) donors can log in straight away. However, those currently supporting us via PayPal will need to cancel their existing donation and re-join us using the guide below in order to ensure their benefits… Direct credit/debit card donors (via Stripe) – click for guide. Using your HKFP donor email address, you'll need to activate your account to manage your donation, newsletters and enjoy all benefits. Logging in: At the top-right of any HKFP page, click 'Sign in.' Enter your donor email address. Check your email inbox for a 6-digit code to verify your identity. Type or paste that code into the form and click 'sign in.' You will see your existing monthly donation under 'My Subscription.' Prefer to set a password? Visit 'My Account' at the top-right after logging in. Expired card? If HKFP's old system was having trouble charging an expired card, you may need to input your payment details from scratch. (Thank you for your patience!) Any trouble? Please contact us: Patreon, bank transfer and Google Reader Revenue donor – click for guide. If we have your email address on record, we may have set up your account already. Using your HKFP donor email address, you may activate your account to manage your newsletters and enjoy all benefits. If you are unable to log in, please contact us and we will set you up! Logging in: At the top-right of any HKFP page, click 'Sign in.' Enter your donor email address. Check your email inbox for a 6-digit code to verify your identity. Type or paste that code into the form and click 'sign in.' You will see your existing monthly donation under 'My Subscription.' Prefer to set a password? Visit 'My Account' at the top-right after logging in. Contact donor support for help Need a hand? As with any transition, we expect a few bugs so if you have any trouble whatsoever, please contact us: 8 new benefits for HK$150+ members HKFP Patrons are being rebranded as HKFP Members. For monthly donors of HK$150 or more, we are offering eight new benefits in July as we celebrate a decade of publishing: Free HKFP deer keyring as we revive our mascot (existing donors, please contact us if you would like to receive one.) Exclusive columns by Tim Hamlett. Previews of HKFP's original reporting. 'Behind the scenes' newsroom insights. Chance to join regular newsroom tours/Q&As. Early access to our Annual/Transparency Report. Merch drops and member discounts. All third-party Google banner ads disabled. Thanks for staying with us! Your regular backing is more precious than ever to our team in 2025. Monthly donors are part of the 0.3% of regular readers – around 1,000 supporters – who help us keep the lights on. As we tackle a four-year deficit, our membership relaunch comes at a critical time. Thank you for your ongoing support. Your direct contributions add up to 94% of our income. 78% of our spending goes on paying our talented, award-winning team of independent local journalists, who remain on-the-ground in Hong Kong. See how your donations power HKFP. Our costs have risen and our resources have been stretched as HKFP has battled harassment, intimidation and false complaints over the past year. This was topped with 'random' government inspections, faced by much of our sector, including tax office scrutiny (see our statement.) By supporting us monthly, you give us a predictable income that allows us to navigate the turbulence. Despite the challenges, HKFP's dedicated team has been able to reach the 10-year milestone thanks solely to supporters like you. Thank you once again for safeguarding our newsroom and helping us occupy the remaining space for press freedom. Donor Frequently Asked Questions: I am already a monthly donor or HKFP 'Patron' – can I access the new benefits? Yes. Our previous fundraising microsite has been retired, and your donor account has been migrated to HKFP's main website – click here to see how to access your new account. PayPal donors will need to cancel their monthly donation at and add a fresh account to their HKFP profile. Any donors of HK$150+ are entitled to the new benefits – if you would you like an HKFP deer plush keyring, or have any trouble, please just email us: How can I adjust or cancel my monthly contribution? You may alter or and cancel your monthly contribution by signing in and adjusting your 'payment ' subscription ' settings under ' my account.' If you have never logged in before, just enter the email address you used for your donation and send an access code to your email. Those who donated via PayPal before our June 30, 2025 relaunch may need to cancel via if they have not activated their HKFP account. I am a monthly donor of HK$150+/month but have not received my 8 benefits. New donors: Please allow up to three working days to be contacted by our founder and added to our HKFP Member benefits newsletter. Existing donors: If you joined us before our June 30, 2025 relaunch, HKFP Member newsletters containing your benefits should be with you from mid-July onwards. If not, please contact us. Legacy PayPal donor: Those who donated via PayPal before our June 30, 2025 relaunch may need to activate their HKFP account to ensure access to benefits.) If you have further enquiries, please email us – we usually respond within 24 hours on working days. Is my data safe? Will you share or sell donor information? Never. Your payment card details are stored securely on Stripe/PayPal servers. We do not sell, trade, or rent users' personal payment data to others. Read our full T&Cs and Privacy Policy here. What is your return/refund policy on merchandise? If you are not 100% satisfied with your purchase, you can return the product within 30 days and get a full refund. Anything you return must be in the same condition you received it, unused and in the original packaging. Please keep any receipt. Online refunds may take up to two weeks. Read our full T&Cs and Privacy Policy here. Are donations tax deductible? Although HKFP is a non-profit, we are not tax exempt, as Hong Kong law does not allow media outlets to register for this status. Unfortunately, donations cannot be deducted from your tax bill. Can I donate anonymously? No, as the law requires that we know who donates. Like any company, HKFP is legally obliged to keep records of income/spending for bookkeeping purposes – it also obliges us to keep records secure and private. Accounting records are overseen by our accountant and yearly auditors, and we respect the anti-money laundering ordinance so may request 'know your client' information from larger contributors. In the event of a tax inspection, we obfuscate donor names. Can I donate over HK$50,000 per year? Yes. HK$50,000 is our limit for donations via our website. If you could like to support us with a larger sum, please contact us. We respect the anti-money laundering ordinance so may request 'know your client' information from larger contributors. HKFP also welcomes donations-in-kind, should you wish to support us indirectly in the long-term. Managing donations To manage donations and subscriptions click on My Subscriptions on the left of your account. To see a record of the orders/payments made, click on Orders on the left hand side. If you need to change or update payment methods, click Payment Methods on the left. You may need to verify your account, and you may wish to manage newsletter subscriptions. For this, click Newsletters on the left.
HKFP
30-06-2025
- Politics
- HKFP
10 Years of HKFP: 8 new benefits for monthly donors – join today as an HKFP Member
A decade in, Hong Kong Free Press is launching eight new benefits for our HK$150+ monthly donors, now known as HKFP members. 🚨 Funding alert: Facing a fourth year of deficit, HKFP needs to add 500 new members to sustain our current output. Existing supporter? Please click here to activate your new account & ensure benefits. Donors of HK$150/month or more are eligible for HKFP Member benefits: 1. Exclusive HKFP deer keyring or tote. Our mascot derives from the Chinese expression 'to point at a deer and call it a horse' – which refers to being deceptive for ill gain. HKFP will always call a deer a deer, and now you can own an exclusive HKFP deer keyring – designed from scratch by HKFP. Alternatively, opt for heavy duty HKFP tote bag. (Apologies, no US shipping). 2. Exclusive columns by Tim Hamlett. HKFP's Tim Hamlett is penning extra columns exclusively for HKFP members. Sign up to receive sharp analysis on local affairs via email. 3. Previews of HKFP original reporting. Receive regular previews of our exclusive features, interviews and explainers via email, a day before they arrive on our website. 4. Merch drops and discounts. Exclusive access to merch store drops, and up to 15% off. 5. 'Behind the scenes' newsroom insights. How do we gather the news? What does a day look like at HKFP? Does HKFP self-censor? How to survive a chief executive press conference? Is press freedom dead, alive or on life support? To mark a decade of HKFP, our editor-in-chief will be sharing regular newsroom insights with members. 6. A chance to join monthly newsroom tours/Q&As. Join us for an after-hours peek of our mini-newsroom in Kennedy Town, then take part in a Q&A with HKFP's founder – ask us (almost!) anything. Regular events are first-come-first-served, offered to a dozen members at a time. 7. Early access to our Annual & Transparency Report. 94% of our income comes from donors, so HKFP Members are first in line to see our Annual Report and Transparency Report every January. They include an overview of our achievements each year, and full details of our income and spending. 8. Third-party banner ads disabled for all donors. Donors of any amount can will see all Google banner ads disabled across HKFP's main website. Non-profit, impartial, and governed by an Ethics Code – HKFP is run by journalists and is 100% independent. Our team relies on readers to power our newsroom and help safeguard press freedom. Our Transparency Report shows how we spend every cent. 8 More Ways to Support HKFP: Donate via Patreon. Support us with a one-off or regular contribution by signing up at: Patrons of over HK$150/month will enjoy HKFP Member benefits. Donate by cheque. One-off HK$ cheques save us on fees. Please make them payable to Hong Kong Free Press Limited. Please include your name and address for accounting purposes. And send to: Hong Kong Free Press, The Hive Kennedy Town, 6/F, Cheung Hing Industrial Building, 12P Smithfield Road, Kennedy Town, Hong Kong. [Please do not send cash.] Donate by Octopus. Scan our QR code in your Octopus app to make a one-off donation. Donate by HSBC PayMe. Scan our QR code in your HSBC PayMe app to make a one-off donation. Please include your name and email in the 'comment' field for accounting purposes. Donate coins via Coin Dragon. Do you have a big jar or bag of coins at home? Contribute leftover 10c, 20c, 50c, HK$1, HK$2 and HK$5 coins to HKFP at Coin Dragon machines across the city. Just select Hong Kong Free Press from the list of non-profits. Advertise with us, or sponsor a section. HKFP reaches a highly engaged audience across our website, eight different social platforms, a newsletter and our podcast. View our latest rate card for an overview of our impact, audience and partnership options. Spread the word. Help us grow – invite your friends to follow us on social media. We are on Facebook, Bluesky, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram and Threads. Or share this page on your profile or send it to friends. 25 Reasons to Support HKFP: 1. Fully independent – no billionaires, conglomerates or governments. HKFP is not owned by any billionaire tycoon or conglomerate, controlled or funded by any government, nor answerable to any shareholders. We are 100 per cent independent in terms of our structure, finances and editorial output. HKFP has never been beholden to powerful elites or funders. This means our reporting cannot be influenced by others, and that all decisions are made among the team in-house. Our independence is essential for maintaining the trust of our readers, and for holding those with power to account without interference. 2. Non-profit – answerable to Hongkongers, not shareholders. Our work has no commercial motive. HKFP seeks to raise enough money to power our newsroom and fulfil our mission. Any funds left over at the end of the year are carried forward to be used in the future. If we experience a deficit, savings from previous years are used to fill the gap. Examine our income and spending here. For-profit news outlets can suffer from bias, sensationalism and poor trust, as they prioritise stories which generate clicks and revenue, rather than providing a public service for readers. When an outlet becomes reliant on maximising profit, advertising and business interests can conflict with editorial and ethical considerations. 3. Proudly reader-funded – backed by 1,000 monthly supporters. 94 per cent of HKFP's income comes directly from our readers, ensuring our press freedom and independence. The rest is from advertising, content sales, and licensing. HKFP does not rely on governments, umbrella companies or billionaire backers. Instead, around 1,000 monthly donors donate an average of HK$201 to help sustain our newsroom – the best situation for our press freedom. Just 0.3 per cent of regular readers are HKFP Members – consider joining us! 4. Hong Kong's most transparent news outlet. HKFP is the most transparent news outlet in Hong Kong, if not Asia. We are externally audited every year, and anyone can examine our income and spending since 2015 – the year of our inception. 5. Governed by a comprehensive Ethics Code. We publish our Policies, Ethics & Best Practices as part of HKFP's commitment to credible, ethical, and independent journalism. These ever-evolving policies underpin all of our reporting practices. They govern how we deal with certain topics, like elections; a host of issues like race, disability or hate speech; as well as how we use certain tools, like AI, or undercover reporting. They guide how we deal with accuracy, anonymity, complaints, sourcing and paid-for content, and include a staff code of conduct. The comprehensive code is backed by the Trust Project and Journalism Trust Initiative. 6. Efficiently run – we make every cent count. HKFP is run as efficiently and prudently as possible, in order to maximise the impact of our donors' generosity. We make savings by partnering with other media outlets, using free software/tools, and making full use of teamwork and automation. We do not employ marketing staff, donation managers, or social media editors – every employee is primarily a journalist. In light of a years-long deficit, in 2024-25, HKFP slashed costs by switching insurers and merch store suppliers, downgrading software packages, adjusting staff transport allowances, finding sponsors for key costs, moving to a smaller office and halting most advertising. We make every cent matter, and we disclose our spending annually. 7. Home to multi-award-winning journalism. HKFP has been nominated for, or won, multiple awards over the years – including from the Human Rights Press Awards, the Hong Kong Press Photographers Association, and the Society of Publishers in Asia. In 2021, our newsroom was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize. In 2024, we were nominated for an International Press Institute Free Media Pioneer award, as well as a Reporters Without Borders Press Freedom Prize. 8. No paywalls – accessible to everyone, everywhere. We are committed to never putting up a paywall and believe our journalism should be free and accessible to everyone. We ensure our news is available wherever your are: on Facebook, Bluesky, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, Threads, Flipboard, Apple News, MSN, Factiva, Nordot, LexisNexis, ProQuest, Telegram (or add our bot: @hkfp_bot) and through our Android, Apple and Windows phone apps. 9. Investing in original reporting. Over the years, we have quadrupled our number of original features, interviews and explainers. With over 30,000 stories published, HKFP invests in original, award-winning reporting. 10. Resisting harassment, intimidation and government scrutiny. Hong Kong has seen journalists jailed, newsrooms raided, and media outlets disbanded as the city plummets in press freedom indices. HKFP has not been immune. We have seen cyberattacks, threats, visa trouble, intimidation, harassment, physical attacks, surveillance, censorship in China, false complaints, media bans, a columnist fleeing, government inspections, and more than our fair share of pepper spray and tear gas. Help protect what remains by supporting non-establishment media at this critical time. 11. Trusted reporting you won't find elsewhere. By definition, our trusted journalism may sometimes be unwelcome by those in power. Whether it's reporting on the trials of the 47 democrats, Jimmy Lai or the Stand News editors; rounding up the latest national security arrests; covering the 2019 protests from the frontlines; or providing comprehensive reporting on the Tiananmen crackdown anniversary, HKFP does not shy away when others retreat. Owing to the lack of independence and ownership issues among fellow news outlets, and given the press freedom situation and dwindling number of newsrooms, HKFP is one of the few trusted sources of news left in the city. 12. Serving Hong Kong's minorities, as a voice of the voiceless. HKFP ensures a special focus on sexual, ethnic and religious minorities, and offers trusted coverage of the city's domestic worker and migrant communities. As an English-language outlet, we also serve the minority who do not speak Chinese. We exist to offer a voice to the voiceless and to hold the powerful to account. In 2022, our original reporting on the city's underrepresented communities won us backing from Google's News Equity Fund. 13. Part of the Trust Project network. In 2023, we gained the Trust Project hallmark – the first global transparency standard that proves a news outlet's commitment to original reporting, accuracy, inclusion, and fairness. As part of their external audit, we publicly disclosed and expanded our ethical policies, standards, reporting and corrections guidelines to adhere to the eight Trust Indicators. The Trust Project seeks to improve media literacy and battle 'fake news,' misinformation and online propaganda. We now join around 300 newsrooms across the world displaying the Trust Mark symbol, including the BBC, The Washington Post, Sky News, CTV and The Economist. 14. The city's only Journalism Trust Initiative member. In 2025, HKFP became Hong Kong's only accredited member of the Journalism Trust Initiative following a months-long external audit. The project is an ISO standard and an international mechanism rewarding ethical journalistic practices. The standard involved examining HKFP against 130 criteria, and was developed by a panel of 130 experts, including journalists, institutions, regulatory bodies, publishers, and new technology players. 15. 100% NewsGuard rating: Meeting all 9 credibility and transparency criteria. HKFP meets all nine of the NewsGuard initiative's credibility and transparency criteria. NewsGuard lists green or red credibility scores for over 6,000 news sites, with assessments carried out by humans, not algorithms. Our 100 per cent rating reflects that we avoid false content, publish information responsibility, correct errors, label opinion and ads, avoid deceptive headlines, disclose ownership, financing and conflicts, and provide biographical information on writers. 16. Media watchdog Ad Fontes Media rates HKFP highly, above SCMP. We have been rated by Ad Fontes Media experts as providing reliable, factual reporting from a politically neutral perspective. HKFP scored 43.20 in terms of reliability and news value, similar to NPR, The Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg, and slightly above Sky News, The Economist and the local South China Morning Post. HKFP is among the most politically balanced news outlets in the world, according to the watchdog's rating. With a score of 0.24 – meaning 'middle' in terms of bias – HKFP is comparable to outlets such as Sky News. 17. Society of Publishers in Asia and Int'l Press Institute members. We are proud members of the International Press Institute, a 73-year-old global organisation dedicated to protecting press freedom and improving journalistic practice. HKFP is also part of the Society of Publishers in Asia, founded in 1982 to champion press freedom and promote excellence. 18. A clear corrections policy – with all errors fixed and logged. Our Corrections Policy ensures accuracy and accountability across HKFP's work, with the date, time and details of any correction appearing clearly at the bottom of articles. We also maintain a log of every correction made to ensure we are as transparent as possible. 19. HKFP sets standards in the workplace. We are signed up to Oxfam's Living Wage initiative to ensure fair pay for all staff, including interns. Our newsroom offers a wage in line with international news outlets, including a health care plan, mental health support and other benefits. In 2020, we enacted a Freelance Charter to set out fair terms and conditions for external contributors. 20. Our journalism has been cited worldwide. Our impact is not just measured through clicks – HKFP's journalism has been cited in countless news reports, as well as by NGOs and governments. Our reporting has been referenced by everyone from The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, the BBC, The Guardian, Reuters and others. 21. We ensure diversity – in our newsroom and in our coverage. HKFP values inclusion and diversity – both in the newsroom and in our output – as part of our adherence to fair, balanced and accurate coverage. We amplify voices from underrepresented, underprivileged or marginalised groups, and our team seeks to balance opinions from different age groups, genders and ethnic backgrounds. As part of our Diversity Statement, we have no tolerance for discrimination, prejudice or bullying and encourage job applications from candidates from minority backgrounds. 22. Boots on the ground and here to stay. HKFP remains in Hong Kong as we can speak to Hongkongers, monitor the legislature, ask tough questions of officials, attend press events, and bear witness at court during key cases. For now, it is better to have boots on the ground than attempt to report on the city from afar. Whilst the press freedom situation may be more predictable abroad, we can ensure better accuracy and nuance by staying put and navigating the situation. 23. Safeguarding press freedom. In 2016, we helped to successfully lobby the government to recognise digital media and allow online journalists into press conferences. In 2021, we distributed a free, open-source fundraising platform for the industry. And in 2023, HKFP launched an anti-censorship version of our news app. Over the years, we have also launched Ombudsman complaints to protect journalists' access to press events, and co-signed several local and international statements to promote press freedom. 24. HKFP Members enjoy eight new benefits. Donate HK$150/month or more to unlock HKFP member benefits. Members receive an HKFP deer keyring or tote, exclusive Tim Hamlett columns, feature previews, 'behind the scenes' insights, early access to our Annual Report, ad-free browsing merch drops and discounts, and a chance to join regular HKFP tours/Q&As. 25. We accept most payment methods – it's easier than ever to donate. It couldn't be easier to support us – HKFP accepts Mastercard, Visa, Amex, JCB, UnionPay, PayMe, Octopus, FPS bank transfers, Apple Pay, Google Pay and cheques. You can also donate cash at CoinDragon kiosks, back us with a Patreon membership, advertise with HKFP, provide donations-in-kind or just help us spread the word. Frequently Asked Questions: I am already a monthly donor or HKFP 'Patron' – can I access the new benefits? Yes. Our previous fundraising microsite has been retired, and your donor account has been migrated to HKFP's main website – click here to see how to access your new account. PayPal donors will need to cancel their monthly donation at and add a fresh account to their HKFP profile. Any donors of HK$150+ are entitled to the new benefits – if you would you like an HKFP deer plush keyring, or have any trouble, please just email us: How can I adjust, pause or cancel my monthly contribution? You may alter or and cancel your monthly contribution by signing in and adjusting your payment settings. Donors who used our old system to sign up before July 2025, please click here to see how to access your new account. If you have further enquiries, please email us – we usually respond within 24 hours on working days. Is my data safe? Will you share or sell donor information? Never. Your payment card details are stored securely on Stripe/PayPal servers. We do not sell, trade, or rent users' personal payment data to others. Read our full T&Cs and Privacy Policy here. Can I donate anonymously? No, as the law requires that we know who donates. Like any company, HKFP is legally obliged to keep records of income/spending for bookkeeping purposes – it also obliges us to keep records secure and private. Accounting records are overseen by our accountant and yearly auditors, and we respect the anti-money laundering ordinance so may request 'know your client' information from larger contributors. In the event of a tax inspection, we will obfuscate donor names. What is your return/refund policy on merchandise? If you are not 100% satisfied with your purchase, you can return the product within 30 days and get a full refund. Anything you return must be in the same condition you received it, unused and in the original packaging. Please keep any receipt. Online refunds may take up to two weeks. Read our full T&Cs and Privacy Policy here. Are donations tax deductible? Although HKFP is a non-profit, we are not tax exempt, as Hong Kong law does not allow media outlets to register for this status. Unfortunately, donations cannot be deducted from your tax bill. Can I donate over HK$50,000 per year? Yes. HK$50,000 is our limit for donations via our website. If you could like to support us with a larger sum, please contact us. We respect the anti-money laundering ordinance so may request 'know your client' information from larger contributors. HKFP also welcomes donations-in-kind, should you wish to support us indirectly in the long-term.
HKFP
29-06-2025
- Politics
- HKFP
10 Years of HKFP: A decade of independent journalism, powered by Hongkongers
Thanks to our generous readers, Hong Kong Free Press is proud to be marking a decade of publishing. Launched as the city's first crowdfunded media outlet in 2015, HKFP's team has offered frontline coverage of the aftermath of the 2014 Umbrella Movement, the mass protests and tear gas of the 2019 unrest, the disruption of the Covid-19 pandemic and – most recently – the political whiplash of the security law era. The first edition of Hong Kong Free Press, on June 29, 2015 – click to view. Over 10 years, HKFP has published 30,000 stories, won multiple awards, launched the careers of 50 local journalists, raised over HK$35 million to fund quality on-the-ground reporting, and was even nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize. We have survived cyberattacks, threats, visa trouble, intimidation, harassment, physical attacks, surveillance, censorship in China, false complaints, media bans, a columnist fleeing, an erroneous arrest, government inspections, and more than our fair share of pepper spray and tear gas. All whilst the city saw newsrooms raided, journalists jailed, and news outlets disbanded. The initial HKFP logo design prototype from January, 2015 – click to view. Few could have predicted the technological and financial turbulence in the media industry, nor the upheaval in Hong Kong. But thanks to HKFP's financial transparency, non-profit status, and the kind, ongoing support of its readers, our platform has reached a milestone few saw possible. Today, 1,000 monthly donors help keep HKFP independent and free to access for all. We remain powered by Hongkongers, with no billionaires, parent company, government or shareholders involved. Media coverage of HKFP's 2015 launch – click to view. 10th anniversary relaunch Over the coming days, HKFP will be making a series of announcements and product launches to mark a decade in publishing. On Monday, HKFP is launching 8 new benefits for new and existing Members donating HK$150+ per month. An HKFP deer keyring or tote. Exclusive Tim Hamlett columns. Previews of HKFP's original reporting. 'Behind the scenes' insights from the founder. Early access to our Annual Report. Ad-free browsing. Exclusive merch drops and discounts of up to 30 per cent. A chance to join regular HKFP tours/Q&As. HKFP's Android and iOS apps are set to be relaunched in the coming days, with a top-to-bottom design revamp and notifications. HKFP has joined the Journalism Trust Initiative, as the first Hong Kong news outlet to onboard with the ISO standard for journalistic quality. HKFP underwent a rigorous, 130-point evaluation of its editorial and ethical practices by external, independent auditors over the past year, adding another credibility hallmark following its Trust Project accreditation in 2023. A new Friday night newsletter: HKFP Monitor. Sign up to receive a birds-eye view of the week's news and views from across the Hong Kong media landscape every Friday. We round-up the essentials, what you may have missed in the Chinese press, and insights into what's causing a buzz on local social media and in the pages of the state-run press. Our new Human-powered Journalism campaign showcases HKFP's commitment to remain a newsroom powered by journalists, not generative AI. And we are reviving our deer mascot. The Chinese proverb 'to call a horse a deer' (指鹿為馬) refers to the misrepresentation of truth. When HKFP launched in 2015, we adopted the deer as our mascot, promising to always 'call a deer a deer.' Now, our deer is returning to remind us of the importance of truth and press freedom at a time when misinformation, disinformation and propaganda are rife. HKFP's first office and an early fundraiser- click to view. Your support is critical in 2025 As we gear up for another decade of frontline reporting, HKFP has been forced to make cutbacks amid a fourth year of financial deficit, government scrutiny, increased costs and a dwindling income. Whilst our team have made sacrifices to ensure the continuity of our reporting this year, HKFP's plan to add 500 more monthly donors is essential to help us close the funding gap and maintain our level of coverage. Please consider becoming a Member, for the price of a weekly coffee – safeguard press freedom, and help guarantee HKFP's future in the city we love. 25 reasons to support the Hong Kong Free Press newsroom: 1. Fully independent – no billionaires, conglomerates or governments. HKFP is not owned by any billionaire tycoon or conglomerate, controlled or funded by any government, nor answerable to any shareholders. We are 100 per cent independent in terms of our structure, finances and editorial output. HKFP has never been beholden to powerful elites or funders. This means our reporting cannot be influenced by others, and that all decisions are made among the team in-house. Our independence is essential for maintaining the trust of our readers, and for holding those with power to account without interference. 2. Non-profit – answerable to Hongkongers, not shareholders. Our work has no commercial motive. HKFP seeks to raise enough money to power our newsroom and fulfil our mission. Any funds left over at the end of the year are carried forward to be used in the future. If we experience a deficit, savings from previous years are used to fill the gap. Examine our income and spending here. For-profit news outlets can suffer from bias, sensationalism and poor trust, as they prioritise stories which generate clicks and revenue, rather than providing a public service for readers. When an outlet becomes reliant on maximising profit, advertising and business interests can conflict with editorial and ethical considerations. 3. Proudly reader-funded – backed by 1,000 monthly supporters. 94 per cent of HKFP's income comes directly from our readers, ensuring our press freedom and independence. The rest is from advertising, content sales, and licensing. HKFP does not rely on governments, umbrella companies or billionaire backers. Instead, around 1,000 monthly donors donate an average of HK$201 to help sustain our newsroom – the best situation for our press freedom. Just 0.3 per cent of regular readers are HKFP Members – consider joining us! 4. Hong Kong's most transparent news outlet. HKFP is the most transparent news outlet in Hong Kong, if not Asia. We are externally audited every year, and anyone can examine our income and spending since 2015 – the year of our inception. 5. Governed by a comprehensive Ethics Code. We publish our Policies, Ethics & Best Practices as part of HKFP's commitment to credible, ethical, and independent journalism. These ever-evolving policies underpin all of our reporting practices. They govern how we deal with certain topics, like elections; a host of issues like race, disability or hate speech; as well as how we use certain tools, like AI, or undercover reporting. They guide how we deal with accuracy, anonymity, complaints, sourcing and paid-for content, and include a staff code of conduct. The comprehensive code is backed by the Trust Project and Journalism Trust Initiative. 6. Efficiently run – we make every cent count. HKFP is run as efficiently and prudently as possible, in order to maximise the impact of our donors' generosity. We make savings by partnering with other media outlets, using free software/tools, and making full use of teamwork and automation. We do not employ marketing staff, donation managers, or social media editors – every employee is primarily a journalist. In light of a years-long deficit, in 2024-25, HKFP slashed costs by switching insurers and merch store suppliers, downgrading software packages, adjusting staff transport allowances, finding sponsors for key costs, moving to a smaller office and halting most advertising. We make every cent matter, and we disclose our spending annually. 7. Home to multi-award-winning journalism. HKFP has been nominated for, or won, multiple awards over the years – including from the Human Rights Press Awards, the Hong Kong Press Photographers Association, and the Society of Publishers in Asia. In 2021, our newsroom was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize. In 2024, we were nominated for an International Press Institute Free Media Pioneer award, as well as a Reporters Without Borders Press Freedom Prize. 8. No paywalls – accessible to everyone, everywhere. We are committed to never putting up a paywall and believe our journalism should be free and accessible to everyone. We ensure our news is available wherever your are: on Facebook, Bluesky, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, Threads, Flipboard, Apple News, MSN, Factiva, Nordot, LexisNexis, ProQuest, Telegram (or add our bot: @hkfp_bot) and through our Android, Apple and Windows phone apps. 9. Investing in original reporting. Over the years, we have quadrupled our number of original features, interviews and explainers. With over 30,000 stories published, HKFP invests in original, award-winning reporting. 10. Resisting harassment, intimidation and government scrutiny. Hong Kong has seen journalists jailed, newsrooms raided, and media outlets disbanded as the city plummets in press freedom indices. HKFP has not been immune. We have seen cyberattacks, threats, visa trouble, intimidation, harassment, physical attacks, surveillance, censorship in China, false complaints, media bans, a columnist fleeing, government inspections, and more than our fair share of pepper spray and tear gas. Help protect what remains by supporting non-establishment media at this critical time. 11. Trusted reporting you won't find elsewhere. By definition, our trusted journalism may sometimes be unwelcome by those in power. Whether it's reporting on the trials of the 47 democrats, Jimmy Lai or the Stand News editors; rounding up the latest national security arrests; covering the 2019 protests from the frontlines; or providing comprehensive reporting on the Tiananmen crackdown anniversary, HKFP does not shy away when others retreat. 12. Serving Hong Kong's minorities, as a voice of the voiceless. HKFP ensures a special focus on sexual, ethnic and religious minorities, and offers trusted coverage of the city's domestic worker and migrant communities. As an English-language outlet, we also serve the minority who do not speak Chinese. We exist to offer a voice to the voiceless and to hold the powerful to account. In 2022, our original reporting on the city's underrepresented communities won us backing from Google's News Equity Fund. 13. Part of the Trust Project network. In 2023, we gained the Trust Project hallmark – the first global transparency standard that proves a news outlet's commitment to original reporting, accuracy, inclusion, and fairness. As part of their external audit, we publicly disclosed and expanded our ethical policies, standards, reporting and corrections guidelines to adhere to the eight Trust Indicators. The Trust Project seeks to improve media literacy and battle 'fake news,' misinformation and online propaganda. We now join around 300 newsrooms across the world displaying the Trust Mark symbol, including the BBC, The Washington Post, Sky News, CTV and The Economist. 14. The city's only Journalism Trust Initiative member. In 2025, HKFP became Hong Kong's only accredited member of the Journalism Trust Initiative following a months-long external audit. The project is an ISO standard and an international mechanism rewarding ethical journalistic practices. The standard involved examining HKFP against 130 criteria, and was developed by a panel of 130 experts, including journalists, institutions, regulatory bodies, publishers, and new technology players. 15. 100% NewsGuard rating: Meeting all 9 credibility and transparency criteria. HKFP meets all nine of the NewsGuard initiative's credibility and transparency criteria. NewsGuard lists green or red credibility scores for over 6,000 news sites, with assessments carried out by humans, not algorithms. Our 100 per cent rating reflects that we avoid false content, publish information responsibility, correct errors, label opinion and ads, avoid deceptive headlines, disclose ownership, financing and conflicts, and provide biographical information on writers. 16. Media watchdog Ad Fontes Media rates HKFP highly, above SCMP. We have been rated by Ad Fontes Media experts as providing reliable, factual reporting from a politically neutral perspective. HKFP scored 43.20 in terms of reliability and news value, similar to NPR, The Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg, and slightly above Sky News, The Economist and the local South China Morning Post. HKFP is among the most politically balanced news outlets in the world, according to the watchdog's rating. With a score of 0.24 – meaning 'middle' in terms of bias – HKFP is comparable to outlets such as Sky News. 17. Society of Publishers in Asia and Int'l Press Institute members. We are proud members of the International Press Institute, a 73-year-old global organisation dedicated to protecting press freedom and improving journalistic practice. HKFP is also part of the Society of Publishers in Asia, founded in 1982 to champion press freedom and promote excellence. 18. A clear corrections policy – with all errors fixed and logged. Our Corrections Policy ensures accuracy and accountability across HKFP's work, with the date, time and details of any correction appearing clearly at the bottom of articles. We also maintain a log of every correction made to ensure we are as transparent as possible. 19. HKFP sets standards in the workplace. We are signed up to Oxfam's Living Wage initiative to ensure fair pay for all staff, including interns. Our newsroom offers a wage in line with international news outlets, including a health care plan, mental health support and other benefits. In 2020, we enacted a Freelance Charter to set out fair terms and conditions for external contributors. 20. Our journalism has been cited worldwide. Our impact is not just measured through clicks – HKFP's journalism has been cited in countless news reports, as well as by NGOs and governments. Our reporting has been referenced by everyone from The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, the BBC, The Guardian, Reuters and others. 21. We ensure diversity – in our newsroom and in our coverage. HKFP values inclusion and diversity – both in the newsroom and in our output – as part of our adherence to fair, balanced and accurate coverage. We amplify voices from underrepresented, underprivileged or marginalised groups, and our team seeks to balance opinions from different age groups, genders and ethnic backgrounds. As part of our Diversity Statement, we have no tolerance for discrimination, prejudice or bullying and encourage job applications from candidates from minority backgrounds. 22. Boots on the ground and here to stay. HKFP remains in Hong Kong as we can speak to Hongkongers, monitor the legislature, ask tough questions of officials, attend press events, and bear witness at court during key cases. 23. Safeguarding press freedom. In 2016, we helped to successfully lobby the government to recognise digital media and allow online journalists into press conferences. In 2021, we distributed a free, open-source fundraising platform for the industry. And in 2023, HKFP launched an anti-censorship version of our news app. 24. HKFP Members enjoy eight new benefits. Donate HK$150/month or more to unlock HKFP member benefits
