They certainly take a different sort of view on how journalism should be conducted in the mainland. But the same argument can be applied to America. If you tried to criticize the American government going to war in Iraq, it would have been very difficult without incurring the anger and anguish of people.

In your discussions with senior officials in China, does press freedom come up? Are they looking to Hong Kong as a model for liberalizing press freedom on the mainland?
I have lots of other things to discuss. There are a lot more things that I am more concerned about in the mainland, particularly those things that have an impact on Hong Kong, rather than press freedom on the mainland. Particularly knowing it is a difficult and sensitive issue. I don’t have many chances to see my senior leaders. I just have two or three occasions in a year. I must make the most of those occasions.

And Hong Kong has a government that is committed to preserving this environment of press freedom?
It’s a definitive answer, yes, because we believe this is good for us. It’s good for the community, and it’s good for Hong Kong as a whole, particularly for the sustainability of Hong Kong as a global city, as a financial center.