Beijing - (dpa) - The Foreign Correspondents' Club of Hong Kong has suspended its Human Rights Journalism Awards for the first time in 26 years, due to potential legal issues related to the controversial national security law.

"Over the past two years, journalists in Hong Kong have been operating under new red lines on what is and is not allowed, but there are still many aspects shrouded in mystery that we would not inadvertently like," club president Keith Richbourg said on the organisation's website. in violation of the law."

"This is the context in which we decided to suspend the awards," he added.

He continued: "The Club intends to continue to promote press freedom in Hong Kong, recognizing that recent developments may also require changes in our approach."

The controversial security law was enacted by Beijing's communist leadership nearly two years ago, following repeated demonstrations and calls for more democracy in Hong Kong.

The broadly worded law allows the prosecution of activities that China deems subversive, separatist, terrorist or conspiratorial.