This Brief introduces a novel research approach to investigate freedom of the press in Hong
Kong. The authors pair computational analyses from the field of natural language processing
with qualitative content analysis of patterns of journalistic practice in volatile political
settings. Together these shed light on the evolution of press freedom in Hong Kong since its
return to Chinese sovereignty. Providing an interdisciplinary perspective the Brief will
appeal to a wide range of readers with interests in computational social science public policy
political sciences as well as policy-makers think tanks and practitioners who focus on the
China-Hong Kong nexus.
