Media Release: Hong Kong
August 6, 2013
The
International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) condemns a
series of attacks and the blocking of photographers by unidentified people while they were carrying out their
duties on August 4, 2013.
On August 4,
at least five people verbally attacked, blocked and pushed photographers to the
ground when they were recording a scuffle at Mongkok,
Kowloon, Hong Kong. Lo Kwok-Fai, of Next Magazine,
a subsidiary of Next Media Group, was pushed to the ground by unidentified men
three times when he was trying to film the scuffle, which occurred between
hundreds of supporters of an outspoken teacher and her detractors. Lo said one
of the men who pushed him to the ground claimed to be a retired policeman. Yel
Tang of Ming Pao Newspaper was blocked and pushed by the same group of people
when he filmed Lo being attacked. The attack was filmed and uploaded to Youtube
by a citizen journalist: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZM34moOebg
“A group of policemen were near us when the harassment began, but none
of them came over to stop it,” Tang said.
“In fact, many photographers suffered harassment on that day and I feel
that such hostile behaviour towards the media has occurred quite often lately.”
Tang, who is also an executive council member of the Hong Kong Press
Photographers Association (HKPPA) added: “Because of that, we are more united
and we wish people to know that as journalists, we merely wanted to report the
facts. When people embrace their rights of expression, they should also respect
people’s personal safety.”
The IFJ
supports our affiliate, the Hong Kong Journalists Association (HKJA), and the HKPPA
in protesting and condemning the attack. Lui Tsz-Lok, convenor of the press
freedom committee of the HKJA, accompanied Lo and Tang to the police
station to file a complaint and said many photographers complained they were blocked, verbally harassed,
pushed and attacked by unidentified people. The HKJA notes that 18 journalists
suffered attacks in Mainland China and Hong Kong between the beginning of 2012
and the end of June 2013.
“It is
totally unacceptable that police officers did not take immediate action against
the attackers when two journalists suffered attacks,” Lui added.
The Police
Department said a suspect who allegedly attacked Lo had been charged
and released on bail.
The IFJ Asia
Pacific Office said: “After the election of the Chief Executive of Hong Kong
and calls for democracy and genuine universal suffrage for the elections of the
Chief Executive and Legislative Council in 2016 and 2017, two polarised points
of view have emerged in society. As journalists, they have a duty to report to
the public.
“Unfortunately,
at the same time, cases where journalists are targeted are escalating in Hong Kong. As well
as journalists being verbally abused and physically attacked, media owners are being targeted.
“We urge
Leung Chun-Ying, the Chief Executive of Hong Kong, and Andy Tsang, the Commissioner
of Hong Kong Police, to send a clear message to society that press freedom is a
fundamental right and is protected under the Basic Law of Hong Kong. In a
civilised society, pluralism is the key and people should respect and protect
the rights of freedom of press.
“We also urge
Andy Tsang, the Commissioner of Police, to demand that all police officers
respect and strictly follow the police officers’ manual, which sets down that police
officers have a duty to protect media personnel while they are carrying out
their duties.”
For further information contactIFJ Asia-Pacific on +61 2 9333 0950
The IFJ represents more than 600,000 journalists in 131
countries
Find the IFJ on Twitter: @ifjasiapacific
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