Chan Man Li, also known as Minnie Chan, a senior reporter for Hong Kong’s largest English-language newspaper, the South China Morning Post (SCMP), travelled to Beijing to cover the Xiangshan Forum, a three-day international security event that ended on October 31. According to Japanese news agency Kyodo, Chan has not returned to Hong Kong since the trip and has been uncontactable for one month.

The SCMP responded to Chan’s alleged disappearance, stating that the journalist is currently 'on vacation' without disclosing further details. Over the past two decades, Chan has specialised in coverage of defence and diplomacy in China for the SCMP and previously reported for Apple Daily, a pro-democracy outlet in Hong Kong forced to shut down by authorities in 2021. Apple Daily’s long-targeted founder and media tycoon Jimmy Lai was convicted of fraud charges in October 2022.

Several press freedom groups based in Hong Kong have attempted to enquire about Chan’s safety with the SCMP and have called for any of the journalist’s family and friends who require assistance or have knowledge of her situation to contact them.

In 2023, the IFJ documented at least 80 jailings of journalists in China and Hong Kong, with forced disappearance, detention, and intimidation of media workers increasingly common. On October 11, Australian journalist Cheng Lei returned to Australia after being held in China for over three years in pre-trial detention on National Security Charges.

The IFJ said:“Beijing has a long history of targeting journalists who are critical of the Chinese government, ans Chan’s disappearance amid increasing crackdowns on Hong Kong’s independent media is deeply concerning. The IFJ urges the Chinese authorities to ensure press freedom is upheld and conduct an immediate investigation into the journalist’s whereabouts to ensure she is able to return to Hong Kong swiftly and safely.”