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Ng Kang-chung

The Chinese-language daily The Sun will fold from Friday, the latest victim of a decline in Hong Kong’s print media.
The Oriental Press Group, which owns the 17-year-old newspaper, blamed the “deteriorating business environment in Hong Kong” for the closure, but said it could resume publication if the economy improved.
The group also owns the popular Chinese-language newspaper Oriental Daily News.
Launched in March 1999, The Sun supposedly targets a young readership, while its stablemate caters for more mature readers.
The Sun entered the field with the launch of a price war, initially selling for HK$2 a copy, undercutting the competition by HK$3. At one point, it was reported to have a readership of over 1.7 million.
Its electronic version and website will also be closed down.
The group said in a statement the “suspension” of publication of The Sun would not have any material adverse impact on its financial position and “is in the best interests of the company and its shareholders as a whole”.
The group’s announcement did not mention if there would be any lay-offs or how many staff members would be affected. However, RTHK reported that some 300 staff could be affected, and some of would be transferred to other jobs internally.
The move followed the group’s decision earlier this month to fold the free weekly newspaper Good News as well as operation of the Oriental Daily News Charitable Fund and The Sun Charitable Fund.
Professor Anthony Fung Ying-him, of Chinese University’s school of journalism and communication, said the rise of digital journalism had delivered a big blow to print media. “This is a global trend. The Hong Kong media cannot be immune,” said Fung, “Many young people nowadays just don’t read newspapers, not to mention buying them.”
Fung also warned the printed newspaper market could shrink even further.
Oriental Press Group’s main rival, Next Media, folded its free tabloid Sharp Daily in 2013. Last year, Next Media closed down its entertainment magazine Sudden Weekly and last month pulled the plug on Face magazine.


Hong Kong newspaper group pulls plug on Chinese-language daily The Sun after 17 years

The Sun, which was aimed at a younger readership, will close down this week. Photo: Sam Tsang

News

Hong Kong

Hong Kong Economy

Oriental Press Group blames ‘deteriorating business environment’ for closure of newspaper aimed at younger readership
