Opinion: China relies on old tricks to control coverage of Hong Kong protests

Doug Young, special to CNN
3 minute read
Published 10:24 PM EDT, Mon October 6, 2014
Police remove barricades and tents outside government headquarters in Hong Kong on Thursday, December 11, 2014. The main site of pro-democracy protests for the past two months was broken down piece by piece, and police dragged out the last remaining demonstrators one by one.
Hong Kong unrest —
Police remove barricades and tents outside government headquarters in Hong Kong on Thursday, December 11, 2014. The main site of pro-democracy protests for the past two months was broken down piece by piece, and police dragged out the last remaining demonstrators one by one.
Vincent Yu/AP
Workers clear barricades on December 11. Protesters wanted to pressure the government to allow open elections for Hong Kong's chief executive in 2017.
Hong Kong unrest —
Workers clear barricades on December 11. Protesters wanted to pressure the government to allow open elections for Hong Kong's chief executive in 2017.
Vincent Yu/AP
Authorities dismantle a barricade December 11 at the main protest site.
Hong Kong unrest —
Authorities dismantle a barricade December 11 at the main protest site.
Alex Ogle/AFP/Getty Images
A police officer removes a protest banner from a bridge December 11.
Hong Kong unrest —
A police officer removes a protest banner from a bridge December 11.
Kin Cheung/AP
A worker cleans the street after Hong Kong police dismantled the main protest camp December 11.
Hong Kong unrest —
A worker cleans the street after Hong Kong police dismantled the main protest camp December 11.
PEDRO UGARTE/AFP/Getty Images
Protesters attend a sit-in rally as police officers break down the campsite.
Hong Kong unrest —
Protesters attend a sit-in rally as police officers break down the campsite.
Kin Cheung/AP
Police officers take away a protester December 11.
Hong Kong unrest —
Police officers take away a protester December 11.
Kin Cheung/AP
A protester is carried away by police officers on December 11.
Hong Kong unrest —
A protester is carried away by police officers on December 11.
Vincent Yu/AP
A crowd listens to a speaker at the main Hong Kong protest site in Admiralty on Tuesday, December 9.
Hong Kong unrest —
A crowd listens to a speaker at the main Hong Kong protest site in Admiralty on Tuesday, December 9.
JOHANNES EISELE/AFP/Getty Images
Few pro-democracy activists tents remain on the road outside Hong Kong's Government Complex on December 9.
Hong Kong unrest —
Few pro-democracy activists tents remain on the road outside Hong Kong's Government Complex on December 9.
Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images
Hong Kong teenage protest leader Joshua Wong ended his hunger strike after about five days on Saturday, December 6, on the advice of his doctor.
Hong Kong unrest —
Hong Kong teenage protest leader Joshua Wong ended his hunger strike after about five days on Saturday, December 6, on the advice of his doctor.
JOHANNES EISELE/AFP/Getty Images
The three co-founders of the Occupy Central movement -- from left, Benny Tai Yiu-ting, Chan Kin-man, and the Rev. Chu Yiu-ming -- surrender to authorities in Hong Kong on Wednesday, December 3.
Hong Kong unrest —
The three co-founders of the Occupy Central movement -- from left, Benny Tai Yiu-ting, Chan Kin-man, and the Rev. Chu Yiu-ming -- surrender to authorities in Hong Kong on Wednesday, December 3.
Lam Yik Fei/Getty Images
Student protest leader <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2014/12/01/world/asia/hong-kong-protest-joshua-wong-hunger-strike/">Joshua Wong</a> carries his belongings toward a tent at the main protest site in Hong Kong's Admiralty district on Tuesday, December 2. Wong and two other student demonstrators have begun a hunger strike to demand discussions with Hong Kong's leaders over political reform for the city.
Hong Kong unrest —
Student protest leader Joshua Wong carries his belongings toward a tent at the main protest site in Hong Kong's Admiralty district on Tuesday, December 2. Wong and two other student demonstrators have begun a hunger strike to demand discussions with Hong Kong's leaders over political reform for the city.
JOHANNES EISELE/AFP/Getty Images
Pro-democracy protesters gather outside the Central Government Complex in Hong Kong on Monday, December 1.
Hong Kong unrest —
Pro-democracy protesters gather outside the Central Government Complex in Hong Kong on Monday, December 1.
Anthony Kwan/Getty Images
Police arrest a protester outside government headquarters in Hong Kong on December 1.
Hong Kong unrest —
Police arrest a protester outside government headquarters in Hong Kong on December 1.
Vincent Yu/AP
A police officer clears umbrellas from the Lung Wo road tunnel after clashes between protesters and police on December 1.
Hong Kong unrest —
A police officer clears umbrellas from the Lung Wo road tunnel after clashes between protesters and police on December 1.
Chris McGrath/Getty Images
Pro-democracy protesters face police forces after clashes in the Admiralty district of Hong Kong on Sunday, November 30.
Hong Kong unrest —
Pro-democracy protesters face police forces after clashes in the Admiralty district of Hong Kong on Sunday, November 30.
PHILIPPE LOPEZ/AFP/Getty Images
A protester reacts after being hit by pepper spray on November 30.
Hong Kong unrest —
A protester reacts after being hit by pepper spray on November 30.
Vincent Yu/AP
Hundreds of pro-democracy protesters face off with Hong Kong police on November 30.
Hong Kong unrest —
Hundreds of pro-democracy protesters face off with Hong Kong police on November 30.
Kin Cheung/AP
Pro-democracy protesters collide with police officers on the main road outside the government headquarters in Hong Kong on November 30.
Hong Kong unrest —
Pro-democracy protesters collide with police officers on the main road outside the government headquarters in Hong Kong on November 30.
Kin Cheung
Police prepare to face protesters on Lung Wo Road outside Hong Kong's Government complex on November 30.
Hong Kong unrest —
Police prepare to face protesters on Lung Wo Road outside Hong Kong's Government complex on November 30.
Pro-democracy protesters push police back as they advance on Lung Wo Road outside Hong Kong's Government complex on November 30.
Hong Kong unrest —
Pro-democracy protesters push police back as they advance on Lung Wo Road outside Hong Kong's Government complex on November 30.
Anthony Kwan/Getty Images
Policemen keep vigil as pro-democracy demonstrators gather on street parallel to where a protest site was cleared in the Mongkok district of Hong Kong on Friday, November 28.
Hong Kong unrest —
Policemen keep vigil as pro-democracy demonstrators gather on street parallel to where a protest site was cleared in the Mongkok district of Hong Kong on Friday, November 28.
PHILIPPE LOPEZ/AFP/Getty Images
Protesters cry as police officers try to stop them from blocking the road in the Mong Kok district of Hong Kong on Wednesday, November 26.
Hong Kong unrest —
Protesters cry as police officers try to stop them from blocking the road in the Mong Kok district of Hong Kong on Wednesday, November 26.
Kin Cheung/AP
Police clash with protesters as they try to clear a major protest site on Tuesday, November 25.
Hong Kong unrest —
Police clash with protesters as they try to clear a major protest site on Tuesday, November 25.
Chris McGrath/Getty Images
A protester is carried away by police officers on November 25. Hong Kong's high court authorized police to arrest protesters who obstruct clearance of the area.
Hong Kong unrest —
A protester is carried away by police officers on November 25. Hong Kong's high court authorized police to arrest protesters who obstruct clearance of the area.
Vincent Yu/AP
Police try to arrest a protester on November 25.
Hong Kong unrest —
Police try to arrest a protester on November 25.
Anthony Kwan/Getty Images
A demonstrator is sprayed with pepper spray by the police after refusing to leave the protest site on November 25.
Hong Kong unrest —
A demonstrator is sprayed with pepper spray by the police after refusing to leave the protest site on November 25.
Kin Cheung/AP
Protesters break a glass door of the Legislative Council on Wednesday, November 19.
Hong Kong unrest —
Protesters break a glass door of the Legislative Council on Wednesday, November 19.
Associated Press
Protesters stand off with police officers outside the Legislative Council building after clashes on November 19.
Hong Kong unrest —
Protesters stand off with police officers outside the Legislative Council building after clashes on November 19.
Anthony Kwan/Getty
Security staff members remove a barricade outside the CITIC tower near a protest site in the Admiralty district of Hong Kong on Tuesday, November 18.
Hong Kong unrest —
Security staff members remove a barricade outside the CITIC tower near a protest site in the Admiralty district of Hong Kong on Tuesday, November 18.
philippe Lopez/AFP/Getty