The Chief Executive Carrie Lam has said the government’s decision to ban the pro-independence Hong Kong National Party was made following “prudent, careful and comprehensive” consideration. According to a report submitted to Beijing and made public this afternoon, the pro-independence party took actual steps to achieve its objective, which endangers national security. Civic Party leader Alvin Yeung told Annemarie Evans that he was worried that Beijing asking for this report had set a bad precedent.

An international press group has warned that proposed changes to extradition laws will put every journalist and blogger in Hong Kong at "a permanent risk". Reporters Without Borders also says Hong Kong’s press freedom situation has worsened in the past year and censorship has become the norm, with mainstream media pressured into complying with whatever Beijing dictates. The warning came as the group released its annual world press freedom index -- doing so for the first time in Hong Kong. The group's East Asia Bureau director, Cedric Alviani, spoke to Ben Tse.

Taiwan is recovering from a 6.1-magnitude earthquake that jolted the island on Thursday. Authorities say 17 people were injured during the quake, which struck just after 1pm off the island’s eastern coast. The quake shook buildings in Taipei, and forced the closure of the city's entire metro network. Two buildings had to be temporarily evacuated, due to structural damage. Taipei-based journalist Cindy Sui spoke to Annemarie Evans.