A Hong Kong online media outlet, cleared of tax evasion after a year-long review, incurred HK$40,000 (US$5,106) in accounting fees. The Hong Kong Journalists Association criticized the situation as an 'unfair punishment' for media organizations with no fault.

A local online media outlet has been cleared of tax evasion after a year-long review, but the process still cost HK$40,000 (US$5,106) in accounting fees, the Hong Kong Journalists Association said on Monday. Describing the case as an “unfair punishment” on media with “zero fault”, the association said it had been required to prepay HK$730,000 in taxes this year, after also coming under review by the Inland Revenue Department since November 2023. Of the eight media outlets and at least 20...