Taipei: Several veteran Hong Kong journalists based outside the Chinese territory have announced plans to launch a media outlet that will focus on Hong Kong news, with a branch in Taiwan. “I personally believe that Hongkongers still need a news platform that can speak for them from a Hong Kong perspective,” said Edward Li, one of the founders of the PULSE HK outlet, at a news conference in Taipei.
According to Focus Taiwan, Li, a journalist with over 20 years of experience working at Hong Kong news outlets such as the now-defunct Apple Daily, noted that the city’s ranking in the 2025 World Press Freedom Index had fallen to 140th. The low ranking reflects the continued erosion of press freedom under Beijing’s tightened grip. Li, who also worked with the U.S. government-funded Radio Free Asia after moving to Taiwan following Apple Daily’s forced closure in 2021, stated that he is motivated to continue reporting on Hong Kong despite the challenges.
Shirley Leung, a former Apple Daily journalist and founder of Photon Media, also spoke at the press conference. She highlighted that many Hong Kong-focused “diaspora media” outlets have emerged globally. However, she expressed feelings of isolation, stating, “But we feel truly alone, and the road ahead often seems endless.” Leung founded Photon Media in Taiwan in 2023 to continue covering Hong Kong after many mainstream news outlets in the city either shut down or avoided reporting stories critical of the government due to the Hong Kong national security law introduced in June 2020.
To counter this trend and amplify media voices, Leung and Li conceived the idea of launching PULSE HK, “a new international media platform.” The platform will merge Photon Media and the U.K.-based The Chaser News, pooling their teams and resources to expand coverage of Hong Kong and China. Several other veteran Hong Kong journalists will join the team, including Wu Lik Hon, former head of the China Desk at i-Cable News in Hong Kong and the Cantonese Service at RFA.
PULSE HK plans to initiate a crowdfunding campaign with a goal of raising HK$4 million (US$509,593) in the first year. The launch date will depend on the fundraising progress, with September set as the earliest possible date. After the launch, PULSE HK branches will be established in Taiwan, the United Kingdom, and North America.
The platform will feature three editorial desks: the Hong Kong desk focusing on city developments, the China desk producing in-depth investigative reports on China, and the English desk aimed at helping the international community better understand the situation in Hong Kong.