(CNN) -- "Hong Kong enjoys a far higher degree of press freedom than before the handover in 1997 and this is on par with the most developed places in the world," said Hong Kong Secretary for Home Affairs, Tsang Tak-sing, to the Legislative Council last November. Tsang was urging council members to vote down a motion defending press freedom in the territory, put forth by the Democratic Party's Emily Lau amid growing concern about China's influence on Hong Kong's media. In fact, he sounded like a mainland official citing instances of 'good deeds' when rebutting criticism against China's human rights record.
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Freedom of the press has steadily eroded in Hong Kong since city's return to Chinese sovereignty
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Survey shows nearly 87% of journalists say press freedom in Hong Kong has deteriorated
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Government's grip on flow of information is main form of eroding press freedom
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Increased self-censorship is most dangerous form of declining press freedom
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