Yeah, I'd love to see some independent verification of this story. It's lovely, ben trovato, but I have seen it only sourced to some dodgy WhatsApp groups or Facebook posts or so. It is certainly not inconceivable, and frankly, if it's true, the fact that Hogg doesn't go around and flaunt it makes me think even more highly of him. But I just don't know whether it's true.

I'd think that he'd say something if it was false.

Good point. I'd have responded that it has never been reported "properly", but then, Newsweek, one should hope, is pretty proper. Let's see.

It's definitely something that many wish was true, which is why it's being spread so widely.

There's also no credible denial.

No incentive for Hogg to deny it, makes him look good.

How about your Civil Aviation Administration making an official statement that it didn't ask Hogg for this list as a starter?

Even if they didn't, they might welcome the chilling effect that comes with the unconfirmed belief that they might have.

Who is "some"?

The first hit on Google for "Rupert Hogg" gives a HK journalist claiming the story is a canard.

Jack Ma's and SCMP's neutrality is a bit up in the air at the moment, I feel. Last time I looked at that story it was just trying to sow doubt, without any evidence to the contrary. I'm sure you'd inform us in great detail if that had changed.

I literally said "some say". Chill out. I totally agree the SCMP is biased.

Jack Ma is a party member SCMP is a mainland propaganda organ.

People loyal to the CCP.