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Hong Kong Free Press won three honourable mentions at the prestigious Society of Publishers in Asia (SOPA) Awards on Thursday night – a new record for the newspaper.
Lulu Yilun Chen (far left) and Team HKFP at the 2026 SOPA Awards on June 18, 2026. Photo: SOPA.HKFP photojournalist Kyle Lam’s five shots of the Tai Po fire tragedy were recognised in the Excellence in Photography category.
In the Carlos Tejada Award for Excellence in Investigative Reporting category, HKFP’s investigation into local bookstores facing simultaneous tax audits won a prize.
Team HKFP at the 2026 SOPA Awards on June 18, 2026. Photo: SOPA.And Hans Tse and Kelly Ho‘s reporting on how residents of Wang Fuk Court pondered their future a month after last November’s blaze also bagged an honourable mention in the Excellence in Feature Writing category.
Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, Hong Kong, on November 28, 2025, after a fatal blaze killed scores of people. Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, Hong Kong, on November 28, 2025, after a fatal blaze killed scores of people. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP.
Firefighters bury Ho Wai-ho, who died in the Wang Fuk Court fire, at Gallant Garden on December 19, 2025. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP.The finalists were selected from a competitive pool of over 700 entries across English, Chinese, and Bahasa Indonesia categories, according to SOPA.
“This year’s entries once again highlight the strength and diversity of our industry, with a growing number of submissions from global, regional, and small media organisations,” the press release said. “From deeply reported investigations to innovative storytelling formats, the calibre of work continues to demonstrate the vital role journalism plays in informing and connecting our communities.”
| 2016 | Human Rights Press Awards: University English language writing | Sexual harassment at Hong Kong’s universities – rarely reported, but not rare | Merit |
| 2019 | Human Rights Press Awards: Student Video & Audio (English) | ‘I am prepared to be imprisoned’ – Chinese human rights lawyer Lin Qilei | Winner |
| 2020 | Index on Censorship’s 2020 Freedom of Expression Award | Hong Kong Free Press | Finalist |
| 2020 | SOPA: Excellence in Photography (Regional) | Shots of the 2019 Hong Kong protest movement | Finalist |
| 2020 | SOPA: Excellence in Explanatory Reporting (Regional) | Hong Kong’s new methodology of protest, explained | Honourable mention |
| 2021 | Nobel Peace Prize | Hong Kong Free Press | Nominated |
| 2021 | SOPA: Excellence in Opinion Writing (Regional) | Hong Kong’s protest movement in perspective | Honourable mention |
| 2023 | SOPA: Excellence in Opinion Writing (Regional) | Press Freedom Day: As long as there are journalists in Hong Kong, there will be journalism | Honourable mention |
| 2023 | Human Rights Press Awards: Single Image | Rolling up ‘Asia’s World City’ | Merit |
| 2024 | International Press Institute Free Media Pioneer award | Hong Kong Free Press | Finalist |
| 2024 | Hong Kong Press Photographers Association feature category | Refuse collection point art at Kwai Chung Estate | Winner |
| 2024 | SOPA: Excellence in Explanatory Reporting (Regional) | Explanatory reporting on the 2023 District Council “patriots only” election | Nominated |
| 2024 | East-West Center Journalists of Courage & Impact | HKFP founder Tom Grundy | Winner |
| 2024 | Reporters Without Borders Press Freedom Prize | Hong Kong Free Press | Nominated |
| 2025 | SOPA: Excellence in Investigative Reporting | Hong Kong’s role in illegal deforestation of the Amazon rainforest in Brazil | Honourable mention |
| 2025 | Extreme Heat Photo Contest | Sweat of a cleaner: extreme heat photojournalism | Finalist |
| 2026 | SOPA: Excellence in Investigative Reporting | Independent bookstores, publishers face simultaneous tax probes | Honourable mention |
| 2026 | SOPA: Excellence in Photography | Deadly Wang Fuk Court fire | Honourable mention |
| 2026 | SOPA: Excellence in Feature Writing | One month since fatal fire, Wang Fuk Court residents reel from trauma | Honourable mention |
Established in 1999, the SOPA Awards recognise editorial excellence in both new media and traditional journalism in the Asia-Pacific region.
The ceremony took place at the JW Marriott Hotel. Karen Hao – award-winning journalist and best-selling author of Empire of AI – addressed the event.
A full list of winners were published on the SOPA website.
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