China on Tuesday censored a website of a Hong Kong rights group amid a crackdown on freedom of speech.

Known as Hong Kong Watch, the UK-based advocacy group said its website could not be accessed through some networks in the Chinese-ruled city.

“If this is not just a technical malfunction, and Hongkongers will no longer be able to access our website because of the national security law, then this is a serious blow to internet freedom,” said Benedict Rogers, the group’s head.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/hong-kong-court-denies-bail-to-two-former-senior-news-editors-amid-crackdown-on-independent-media-441326/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

“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 latest example shows that at any time, the Hong Kong authorities can decide to block a website. It also shows ... how intransparent the process of blocking and censorship is," Lokman Tsui, a digital rights expert and former journalism professor.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hong-kong-third-news-company-shutters-amid-chinese-crackdown-on-dissent-441939">Also read |&nbsp;Hong Kong: Third news company shutters amid Chinese crackdown on dissent</a>

Hong Kong, once regarded as a bastion of free speech within authoritarian China, has been transformed by a 2020 law that Beijing imposed to neuter dissent in the wake of huge and often violent democracy protests.&nbsp;

More than 160 people have been arrested under the new security law, including activists and journalists from pro-democracy news outlets.

Rights groups, foreign governments and activists have condemned the law for reversing the freedoms promised to Hong Kong when Britain handed it over to China in 1997.

Often denied bail, many suspects have been detained for long periods before trial. They include several dual nationals, most notably mogul Jimmy Lai, a British-Chinese dual citizen and owner of the now-shuttered pro-democracy Apple Daily newspaper.

Lai has been charged over his alleged role in Tiananmen vigils, annual events commemorating the bloody crackdown on Chinese students calling for reform in Beijing.

Authorities in Hong Kong have shown little tolerance for dissent, and with a "patriots only" electoral system in place, there is negligible push-back to the government in the legislature. 
&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

China on Tuesday censored a website of a Hong Kong rights group amid a crackdown on freedom of speech. Known as Hong Kong Watch, the UK-based advocacy group said its website could not be accessed through some networks in the Chinese-ruled city.

China on Tuesday censored a website of a Hong Kong rights group amid a crackdown on freedom of speech. Known as Hong Kong Watch, the UK-based advocacy group said its website could not be accessed through some networks in the Chinese-ruled city. “If this is not just a technical malfunction, and Hongkongers will no longer be able to access our website because of the national security law, then this is a serious blow to internet freedom,” said Benedict Rogers, the group’s head. “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 latest example shows that at any time, the Hong Kong authorities can decide to block a website. It also shows ... how intransparent the process of blocking and censorship is," Lokman Tsui, a digital rights expert and former journalism professor. Also read | Hong Kong: Third news company shutters amid Chinese crackdown on dissent Hong Kong, once regarded as a bastion of free speech within authoritarian China, has been transformed by a 2020 law that Beijing imposed to neuter dissent in the wake of huge and often violent democracy protests. More than 160 people have been arrested under the new security law, including activists and journalists from pro-democracy news outlets. Rights groups, foreign governments and activists have condemned the law for reversing the freedoms promised to Hong Kong when Britain handed it over to China in 1997. Often denied bail, many suspects have been detained for long periods before trial. They include several dual nationals, most notably mogul Jimmy Lai, a British-Chinese dual citizen and owner of the now-shuttered pro-democracy Apple Daily newspaper. Lai has been charged over his alleged role in Tiananmen vigils, annual events commemorating the bloody crackdown on Chinese students calling for reform in Beijing. Authorities in Hong Kong have shown little tolerance for dissent, and with a "patriots only" electoral system in place, there is negligible push-back to the government in the legislature. (With inputs from agencies)

China censors website of Hong Kong rights group amid crackdown on freedom of speech

Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said London wanted an urgent explanation after a British human rights activist was barred from entering Hong Kong on Wednesday.

Benedict Rogers, deputy chairman of the governing Conservative Party&#39;s human rights commission, arrived by plane from Bangkok but was turned away by immigration in the semi-autonomous Chinese city.

&quot;I am very concerned that a UK national has been denied entry to Hong Kong,&quot; Johnson said in a statement.

&quot;The British government will be seeking an urgent explanation from the Hong Kong authorities and from the Chinese government,&quot; he said.

&quot;Hong Kong&#39;s high degree of autonomy and its rights and freedoms are central to its way of life and should be fully respected.&quot;

Britain handed Hong Kong back to China in 1997 under a &quot;One country, two systems&quot; formula intended to protect its freedoms and way of life. The semi-autonomous city is supposed to handle its own immigration affairs.

Rogers, who lived in Hong Kong between 1997 and 2002, had spoken out against the jailing of activists including Joshua Wong.

Benedict Rogers, deputy chairman of the governing Conservative Party's human rights commission, arrived by plane from Bangkok but was turned away by immigration in the semi-autonomous Chinese city

Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said London wanted an urgent explanation after a British human rights activist was barred from entering Hong Kong on Wednesday. Benedict Rogers, deputy chairman of the governing Conservative Party's human rights commission, arrived by plane from Bangkok but was turned away by immigration in the semi-autonomous Chinese city. "I am very concerned that a UK national has been denied entry to Hong Kong," Johnson said in a statement. "The British government will be seeking an urgent explanation from the Hong Kong authorities and from the Chinese government," he said. "Hong Kong's high degree of autonomy and its rights and freedoms are central to its way of life and should be fully respected." Britain handed Hong Kong back to China in 1997 under a "One country, two systems" formula intended to protect its freedoms and way of life. The semi-autonomous city is supposed to handle its own immigration affairs. Rogers, who lived in Hong Kong between 1997 and 2002, had spoken out against the jailing of activists including Joshua Wong.

Britain wants answers after rights activist barred from Hong Kong: Boris Johnson

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China censors website of Hong Kong rights group amid crackdown on freedom of speech

Britain wants answers after rights activist barred from Hong Kong: Boris Johnson