Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said media in Hong Kong should consciously defend national security, describing that the role of media is becoming more critical. And she is right. Freedom of speech is very nice, very important, but by nature it is below and not above the need to survive and thrive. Food, roof, health, safety are all in a higher level of the common interest of: government, citizens, courts, and the media.