HKBU Fact Check is a fact-checking project under the School of Communication and Film at Hong Kong Baptist University, as documented on our website (https://comd.hkbu.edu.hk/factcheckservice/about-us/vision-and-mission/). 

The applicant is a distinct team within a legally registered organization, and details of this are easily found on its website.

1. The project was launched in May 2021, and HKBU Fact Check started publishing fact-checking reports in August 2021. The project serves to provide fact-checking services for the Hong Kong community.

2. HKBU Fact Check currently has seven key members supporting daily operations, including academic staff and research assistants hired exclusively for this project. A working committee is responsible for monitoring the fairness of the claim selection process. Details of our structure can be found here: https://comd.hkbu.edu.hk/factcheckservice/about-us/structure/

3. As a project facilitated by an academic institution, we also work towards conducting research related to fact-checking (https://comd.hkbu.edu.hk/factcheckservice/research/) and promoting media literacy to the public (https://comd.hkbu.edu.hk/factcheckservice/fact-check/media-literacy/). The project has an official website, a Facebook account (https://www.facebook.com/hkbufactcheck/), and an Instagram account (https://instagram.com/hkbufactcheck). As of Feb. 18, 2022, we have 1,629 followers on Facebook and 745 followers on Instagram. In addition, the project has a Twitter account (https://twitter.com/HKBUFactCheck) and a LinkedIn account (https://www.linkedin.com/company/hkbufactcheck/), targeted on English speakers.

4. Our long-term goals include publishing research on information disorder and public policy, establishing a hybrid human and machine fact-checking system, and expanding collaborations with local and overseas media practitioners.

The applicant is set up exclusively for the purpose of fact-checking. Established in 2021. The applicant has seven key members supporting daily operations, including academic staff and research assistants hired exclusively for this project.

We have published an average of at least one fact check a week over the course of the six months prior to the date of application. Our official website hosts an archive of fact checks published in the previous three months: https://comd.hkbu.edu.hk/factcheckservice/fact-check/

The applicant has published an average of at least one fact check a week over the course of the six months prior to the date of application. 

Most stories in the previous three months I've gone through tackle issues and claims that are significant and relevant to public interests.

HKBU Fact Check is a fact-checking project under the School of Communication and Film at Hong Kong Baptist University, and has no relationships with politicians and political parties in the countries we cover. In addition, we have not received support from foreign as well as local state or political actors over the previous financial year. Besides funding from the School of Communication and Film, HKBU Fact Check has also received funding from the Teaching Development Grant – Communities of Practice (Project Title: BU Fact Check. Principal Coordinator: Stephanie Jean Tsang).

This applicant declares that it has no relationships with politicians and political parties in the countries it covers. It has not received support from foreign as well as local state or political actors over the previous financial year. Besides funding from the School of Communication and Film, the applicant has also received funding from the Teaching Development Grant – Communities of Practice

We currently do not receive funding from local or foreign state or political sources. This page indicates how we ensure the editorial independence of our work: https://comd.hkbu.edu.hk/factcheckservice/fact-check/our-process/

The applicant declares that it has no funding from local or foreign state or political sources.

Ten fact checks that represent the scope and consistency of our fact-checking:

#01 -【錯誤】國家氣象局預測廣東史上最冷春節即將來臨，除夕氣溫跌至零下？https://comd.hkbu.edu.hk/factcheckservice/2021/01/15/guangdongtemperature/

#02 -【錯誤】美國特斯拉（Tesla）行政總裁馬斯克曾稱， 中國政府可能比美國政府對人民更有責任感？

https://comd.hkbu.edu.hk/factcheckservice/2021/01/14/elon-musk/

#03 -【錯誤】前美國駐成都領事林傑偉夫人莊祖宜被指美國外交官「陪睡丫頭」、網民懷疑遭拋棄 ？

https://comd.hkbu.edu.hk/factcheckservice/2021/01/09/diplomatic_china_us/

#04 -【真實】日本政府表示新冠肺炎可能會被分類為新型流感？

https://comd.hkbu.edu.hk/factcheckservice/2021/01/20/japancovid/

#05 -【無法確定】47名已施打過中國疫苗的中國工人在烏干達確診新冠肺炎?

https://comd.hkbu.edu.hk/factcheckservice/2020/12/23/uganda/

#06 -【錯誤】中聯辦主任駱惠寧稱中國連續兩年在世界銀行的營商環境報告中排名第一有誤？

https://comd.hkbu.edu.hk/factcheckservice/2020/10/31/worldbank_20201031/

#07 -【錯誤】世衛首席科學家指中國新冠疫苗被證明有效？

https://comd.hkbu.edu.hk/factcheckservice/2020/09/26/who-vaccine_20200926/

#08 -【錯誤】新疆維吾爾族人口增幅是加拿大人口增幅的18倍？

https://comd.hkbu.edu.hk/factcheckservice/2020/12/03/%e6%96%b0%e7%96%86%e7%b6%ad%e5%90%be%e7%88%be%e6%97%8f%e4%ba%ba%e5%8f%a3%e5%a2%9e%e5%b9%85/

#09 -【部分真實】美國航母羅斯福號已經有四分之一人感染新冠病毒？

https://comd.hkbu.edu.hk/factcheckservice/2020/10/17/rooseveltcovid_20201016/

#10 -【錯誤】Netflix真人騷《璀璨帝國》（Bling Empire）中韓裔男模Kevin Kreider身家過億港元？

https://comd.hkbu.edu.hk/factcheckservice/2021/01/29/kevinkreid

HKBU FactCheck Service strives to maintain the following coherent standards by generating fact-checking reports as follows:

We report on:

1. The background of the suspicious content including:

· Direct quotation of the suspicious content

· The name of the source, published time, message/article header, etc.

2. Inconsistent media reports related to the suspicious content (if any) including:

· Quotations of the related media reports

· The name of the source, published time, message/article header, and the respective content etc.

3. The claim to be fact-checked including:

· A claim or multiple claims selected from the suspicious content

· Elaborations of definitions related to the claim(s)

4. Fact-checking findings on the selected claim(s) obtained in the following ways:

· Expert opinion will be collected via interviews. A hyperlink of the expert’s profile, direct quotations from the expert, and corresponding document archives will be included in the final report.

· Expert opinion will be collected via secondary sources. The name of the secondary source, document archive of the secondary source, published time, quotation from the expert, and the expert’s profile will be included in the final report.

· For related studies/reports, the name of the source, published time, study/report title with hyperlink, quotation from the expert, and the expert’s profile will be included in the final report.

5. In conclusion, the final report will contain:

· A brief summary on our findings

· Evidence that supports our findings

· Our verdict

An editor and a supervisor will fact check all reports prior to publication. For readers’ reference, we present all our references on a web page that we provide to the readers via URL. Keywords are included for easy reference.

The stories the applicant chose clearly demonstrate its editorial stance of non-partisanship. They apply the same standards consistently.

HKBU Fact Check has a mechanism which supports a fair and balanced selection of suspicious contents. Not only are contents selected from a wide variety of social media content, but also contents which fulfill the following criteria are selected for fact-checking:

· The suspicious content includes facts which can be fact checked. In other words, opinions will be excluded.

· The suspicious content is misleading.

· The suspicious content involves public interest.

· The suspicious content has gained some popularity in the community.

· HKBU Fact Check can gain access to primary and/or secondary sources to perform fact-checking of the suspicious content.

These criteria are also present on our official website: https://comd.hkbu.edu.hk/factcheckservice/fact-check/our-process/

In general, to ensure we do not unduly concentrate our fact-checking on any one side, we extract suspicious claims from CrowdTangle using the same protocol every day. We mostly focus on claims which have gained high interaction counts among the Hong Kong public on Facebook. 

https://comd.hkbu.edu.hk/factcheckservice/fact-check/our-process/

Verification methods and criteria are clear.

In view of what I have observed, the applicant discloses in its fact checks relevant interests of the sources it quotes where the reader might reasonably conclude those interests could influence the accuracy of the evidence provided.

In view of what I have observed, the applicant provides fact-checking reports based on truth and evidence. It doesn't show support for any party, any politician, or political candidate.

Regarding advocacy and supporting political candidates, HKBU Fact Check has a nonpartisan statement posted on the official website (https://comd.hkbu.edu.hk/factcheckservice/about-us/vision-and-mission/). To bar staff from direct involvement in political parties and advocacy organizations, everyone involved in HKBU Fact Check, including fact-checkers and management team members, are required to date and sign a “Form for Declaration of Interests.” 

The applicant explains its policies to preserve its non-partisan way of fact-checking. Everyone involved in HKBU Fact Check is required to date and sign a “Form for Declaration of Interests.”

In view of what I have observed, the applicant identifies the source of significant evidence used in its fact checks.

In view of what I have observed, the applicant uses the best available primary sources of evidence in most stories.

In view of what I have observed, the applicant frequently applies multiple sources in their stories.

In view of what I have observed, the applicant identifies in its fact checks the relevant interests of the sources it uses where the reader might reasonably conclude those interests could influence the accuracy of the evidence provided.

HKBU Fact Check is currently funded by the School of Communication and Film, which is a publicly funded, independent academic organization. 

The applicant is a project in the School of Communication and Film, HKBU.

The statement about ownership and funding can be found here: https://comd.hkbu.edu.hk/factcheckservice/about-us/vision-and-mission/

The applicant has a page (the “Mission” section on the Vision and Mission page) on their website declaring its independent, self-funded status.

Our organizational structure can be found here: https://comd.hkbu.edu.hk/factcheckservice/about-us/structure/

The applicant has a page (the “People” section on the About US page) on its website that describes how and by whom editorial control is exercised.

All the key actors behind HKBU Fact Check can be found here: https://comd.hkbu.edu.hk/factcheckservice/about-us/structure/

All the key actors behind HKBU Fact Check can be found here: https://factcheck.hkbu.edu.hk/home/en/about-us/structure/ 

The applicant has a page (the “People” section on the About US page) on their website that details the professional biography of those who play a significant part in its editorial output. However, the professional biography of the fact-checkers and the project assistant is missing on the English page. 

The applicant has a page (the “People” section on the About US page) on their website that details the professional biography of those who play a significant part in its editorial output. 

The public may contact the organization through the following channels:

· The telephone number and email address displayed on our official website (https://comd.hkbu.edu.hk/factcheckservice/contact-us/)

· Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/hkbufactcheck/)

· Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/hkbufactcheck/)

· Twitter (https://twitter.com/HKBUFactCheck)

· LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/hkbufactcheck/)

The applicant provides its contact information to the users. 

Our detailed methodology can be found here:

https://comd.hkbu.edu.hk/factcheckservice/fact-check/our-process/

On this page "Our Process", the applicant publishes the methodology it uses to select, research, write and publish its fact checks.

In view of what I have observed, the applicant selects claims to check based primarily on the reach and importance of the claims. Many reports are relevant to the themes of Covid-19 and the War on Ukraine that have significant influences on the global order.

In view of what I have observed, the applicant sets out in their fact checks relevant evidence that appears to support the claim as well as relevant evidence that appears to undermine it. 

In view of what I have observed, the applicant assesses the merits of the evidence found using the same high standards applied to evidence on equivalent claims, regardless of who made the claim.

In view of what I have observed, the applicant regularly relies on primary and secondary sources of information and does not make unfair conclusions or inaccurate deductions from evidence. The applicant also identifies the interests of sources if they would be required to understand the source’s credibility.

Users can submit claims to fact-check via a Google form available on our official website (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScD01P-Ab35t3H7HRe3zQXjozOA041PWc282g9r1hG6kvc9FQ/viewform?vc=0&c=0&w=1&flr=0&gxids=7628). In addition to our official website, they can also submit claims through our Facebook and Instagram accounts. Users can learn what will be fact-checked and what isn’t fact-checkable here: https://comd.hkbu.edu.hk/factcheckservice/fact-check/our-process/

The applicant encourages users to communicate with them via the “via a Google form available on its official website. In addition, the Facebook and Instagram accounts of the applicant are also reachable. 

Here is the page with our policy to address corrections: https://comd.hkbu.edu.hk/factcheckservice/fact-check/correction-policy/

The applicant has a corrections policy that is easily visible and accessible on its website https://factcheck.hkbu.edu.hk/home/en/fact-check/correction-policy/

Here is the page with our policy to address corrections:

https://factcheck.hkbu.edu.hk/home/fact-check/correction-policy/ (CN) 

https://factcheck.hkbu.edu.hk/home/en/fact-check/correction-policy/ (EN)

In order to ensure the accuracy of each fact-checking report, all suggestions, potential corrections and even complaints are welcome.

Readers please contact us through comm_fcs@hkbu.edu.hk to submit your feedback or correction request. All submissions will be reviewed by our editorial team. If the submission are deemed justifiable, we will go further and update the fact-checking report accordingly.

1) Major mistake that will change the verdict—The report will be re-published after correction. A statement that elaborates the change and the date of re-publication will be issued and updated in the report.

2) Factual error—the specific error will be marked and corrected in the report accordingly, with a note that explains the correction and the date of modification.

3) Updates—If additional information is required to fully explain the issue, we will update the report with the new information. A note about the update will also be marked in the report.

4) Typos, grammatical errors, and other minor flaws—They will be corrected accordingly and will not be noted.

The correction policy provides contact information for users to submit feedback. After reviewing information that users submit, the applicant declares that “If there are any errors or missing parts of fact, we would mark the items with updated reasons and dates accordingly in the report.”

The applicant needs further set out clear definitions of what it does and does not cover, how major mistakes, especially those requiring revised conclusions of a fact check, are handled, and the fact that some complaints may justify no response.

The applicant clearly lays out its correction and complaint policy at the link: 

https://factcheck.hkbu.edu.hk/home/en/fact-check/correction-policy/ (EN)

https://factcheck.hkbu.edu.hk/home/fact-check/correction-policy/ (CN) 

For corrections, we will follow the guidelines as stated under Criterion 7.2. (https://comd.hkbu.edu.hk/factcheckservice/fact-check/our-process/). Two examples of fact checks that have been corrected over the previous six months are as follows,

1. 【錯誤】半年以來全球多達108名足球員猝死，是過往平均數的五倍？ (published on Jan. 31, 2022; corrected on Feb. 11, 2022.) https://comd.hkbu.edu.hk/factcheckservice/2022/01/31/football-players/

2. 【錯誤】新冠病毒的新變異株命名為「Flurona」？ (published on Feb. 1, 2022; corrected on Feb. 17, 2022.)

https://comd.hkbu.edu.hk/factcheckservice/2022/02/01/flurona/

The applicant gives 2 examples from 2 different articles. It demonstrates that they have handled corrections adequately and professionally. 

We are not yet an existing signatory.

The applicant is not an existing signatory

Our fact-checking unit does not belong to a media company.

The applicant does not belong to a media company.