The tensions between Hong Kong 97 and the establishment came to a head in 1996, when the magazine published a interview with a prominent pro-democracy activist. The government claimed that the interview was a breach of the Official Secrets Act, and the magazine's editors were summoned to appear before a government inquiry.
In the early 1990s, Hong Kong was on the cusp of a major transformation. The British colony was set to be returned to China in 1997, and the city's future was shrouded in uncertainty. It was in this tumultuous environment that a small group of entrepreneurs and journalists decided to launch a new magazine that would shake up the city's media landscape: Hong Kong 97. hong kong 97 magazine new
In the end, the controversy took its toll on Hong Kong 97. The magazine's financial struggles, combined with the government's pressure, forced the publication to cease operations in 1997. The tensions between Hong Kong 97 and the