Yee-Chong Lee is the big winner of the 2009 Natali Prize. The Chinese won the Grand Prize for his story: Sichuan Earthquake - One year on.

Yee-Chong Lee is a part time reporter for the Chinese media Now TV since 2006. Since his graduation from the Chinese University of Hong Kong in 2007, the chain has hired him full time.

His story covers the earthquake of May 12, 2008 in the Sichuan province, which caused the death of 50,000. Yee-Chong Lee and his crew spent a month on the scene to investigate the reasons of the disaster: natural hazard or governmental responsibility for the poor quality of infrastructure?

The young journalist tells us about his impressions and his work.

Nathalie Gentaz: How do you feel after winning the Natali Prize?

Yee-Chong Lee:  I am deeply honor to have been selected as the grand prize winner. I think that, the prize is stand for European concern on the development of human right and democracy in China. It is also an encouragement to all of the reporters who try their best to cover the truth in China.

NG: How difficult is it for reporters to cover the truth in China?

YCL: It is not too difficult to do report in China. The concept of Press Freedom in China has progressed. And it is still progressing. However, you will find that it is still not enough especially when you are reporting some sensitive issues.

When I was doing our report, I have been arrested twice a week by the Sichuan Police; I was required to tell them the details of our investigation, the name of the people we contacted before. My and some parents' cell phone is also believed to have been wiretapped. Even though you get pass from the Beijing government (the Central government), you will face some hindrance which came from the local government.

NG: Has the Chinese government put some pressure over you after seeing your report? Has this story affected your job?

YCL: I, personally, didn't feel any pressure form the Chinese government. Since under the concept of '1 country and 2 systems’, Hong Kong reporters won't be affected easily by the Beijing government.

And, being a reporter in China, low profile means safety. My story, especially after I got the prize, let the Sichuan government know who i am and what we did before. So, i have to be more cautious when I come back to Sichuan.

But if I go to the other province, I believe that I can still be free in covering what subject I am interested in.

I insist that, I am only a reporter who gives voice to all the Chinese, but I am not trying to carry out any movement or promoting any concept in my country. I think that it will be international breaking news if a Hong Kong reporter was put in jail, arrested, or treated violently by the Chinese government. The world will condemn the government; HK citizens will give pressure to the Chinese government also. So, to answer your question, I am not in fear of what the government will do to me. 

NG: What did you find out when investigating on the story?

YCL: We did my story in early 2009, we try to find out why there were many schools collapsed during the earthquake in 2008. And the death toll of students is dispropotionately higher than those of the adults. We found out the government tried to stop the parents complaining the poor quality of contruction of the school. Our story also tells that the fragile school building was a result of corruption. Some parents of the dead students told us that, the subcontractors sold the building materials to villagers during constructing the school building. At the second part, we found that there are still a lot of poor quality contruction materials which existed in the market, is using for many buildings. 

NG: What do you think of the European Development Days this year?

YCL: European Development Days is a meaningful activities. It allows people from all over the world to have a look in different topics related to human rights such as Women Right, Children Right in the exhibition. It is seldom to exist in my country. I am also impressed by the people who try their best to communicate and discuss with others on different topics. But, it will be more perfect if the EDD will concern more about the role European countries can play, in helping the development of human right and democracy in the developing countries, especially how to empower and educate the people who seldom have chance to know what can they do to fight for their human basic right.