Tax Audits and Government Pressure on Independent Media in Hong Kong
Introduction
The Hong Kong Journalists Association (HKJA) has reported that independent media organizations and their staff are facing a series of tax audits and demands for advance payments.
Main Body
The HKJA revealed that the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) required a provisional tax payment of HK$730,000, which is a large increase from the HK$300,000 requested last year. Since May 2025, the association has found that eight media outlets and about 20 people have been audited. The results of these investigations differ. For example, Hong Kong Free Press paid HK$57,692 to settle a small tax difference from 2021-22, a cost the HKJA claims is higher than usual penalties. Meanwhile, InMedia was found to have no tax errors after a year-long review, but the organization still spent HK$40,000 on accounting fees to prove they followed the rules. There is a clear disagreement regarding the purpose of these audits. The HKJA emphasizes that the IRD is wasting public resources because the money recovered from these media cases is very small compared to typical tax recoveries. Furthermore, the association asserts that these investigations are part of a global trend where tax audits are used to damage the reputation of journalists. However, Inland Revenue Commissioner Benjamin Chan has denied that the media sector is being targeted. He stated that the department's procedures are based only on the risk of tax evasion and do not depend on the taxpayer's profession.
Conclusion
While the IRD denies that it is targeting specific groups, the HKJA insists that these audits create unfair financial and administrative pressure on independent media.
Learning
The 'Reporting' Power-Up: Moving from A2 to B2
At the A2 level, you usually say 'He said that...' or 'They think that...'. To reach B2, you need Reporting Verbs that show the intention behind the words. Look at how this article moves beyond simple speech:
1. The 'Strong Claim' Verbs Instead of using "say," the text uses:
- Asserts: When someone states something strongly as a fact (e.g., "the association asserts that...").
- Insists: When someone refuses to change their opinion even if others disagree (e.g., "the HKJA insists that...").
- Emphasizes: When someone wants to make a specific point very clear (e.g., "The HKJA emphasizes that...").
2. The 'Defense' Verb
- Denied: This is the opposite of asserting. Use this when someone says something is not true (e.g., "Benjamin Chan has denied that...").
💡 Why this matters for your fluency:
If you use "say" for everything, you sound like a beginner. If you use these specific verbs, you tell the listener how the person is speaking.
Comparison:
- A2 Level: "The HKJA says the audits are bad." (Basic information)
- B2 Level: "The HKJA asserts that the audits are a tool for pressure." (Professional, precise, and persuasive)
🛠️ Vocabulary Bridge: 'Administrative' vs 'Financial'
Note how the text separates financial pressure (money/taxes) from administrative pressure (paperwork/time/rules). Using these adjectives allows you to categorize problems precisely, a hallmark of B2 level English.