Zuckerberg Fears HK Could Lose Facebook, WhatsApp

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has raised the possibility of the social media platform being banned in Hong Kong in light of Beijing's new national security law for the SAR, noting that mainland China is one of the few places in the world that doesn't allow its people to use the service.

In an interview with US broadcaster Fox News, Zuckerberg pointed out that Facebook-owned WhatsApp is also popular in the SAR as he expressed hope that the platforms will continue to be available in the city in the future.

Zuckerberg noted that Beijing approaches the internet "very differently" from the US, Europe and most other countries and said this is the reason Facebook has not been able to reach an agreement to operate in China.

Asked whether he has a strategy to help people in Hong Kong continue to use Facebook, he said: "I do think we're going to have to watch this situation closely right now."

"People across Hong Kong really love our services. They use WhatsApp because it's encrypted and they know it's going to be secure. They know they can message each other safely without being watched. People use Facebook in order to stay in touch with their friends and family around the whole world, and I certainly hope that we'll find a way to keep offering the services over the long-term."

Zuckerberg also said he is "very worried" that other countries are eyeing China's internet controls with envy and are considering bringing in similar rules to enable them to decide what companies can do and see what citizens are up to online.

"I hope that in five, 10 years from now the rules of the internet are closer to what we have in the US and Western democracies, rather than what China is pitching," he said.