The
International Federation of Journalists joins its affiliate the Hong Kong
Journalists Association (HKJA), and other local media organisations in
welcoming the not guilty verdict passed down in the case of photographer Sing
Kai-Chung on December 7.
Over
thirty people including representatives of the IFJ, the HKJA, the Hong Kong
Photographers Association and the Apple Daily Union attended the hearing in
support of former Apple Daily photo-journalist Sing
Kai-Chung, who was found
not guilty of common assault by the Eastern
Magistrate of Hong Kong.
The IFJ had previously reported that Sing Kai-Chung was charged with common assault
for allegedly pushing a security guard to the ground outside the Government
Headquarters building in Hong Kong on January
9.
The HKJA
and other local media organisations protested in support of Sing on September
28, claiming that the incident and charge was a result of restrictive
regulations that prevent media from reporting outside the Hong Kong Government
Headquarters.
The
Apple Daily Union Chairperson Edward Li Ka-Chung has repeatedly sent letters
requesting a meeting with Miss Kitty
Choi, Director of Administrative Wing of the Hong Kong Government Headquarter
Building and the Legislative Council, to discuss the current restrictions and
seek amendments which would allow the press to report more freely in the
public’s interest.
“We
welcome the verdict in Mr Sing’s case but renew the call to lift restrictions
that prevent the media from reporting in the public interest from outside the Government Headquarters
Building” said the IFJ Asia Pacific Office.
For
further information contact IFJ Asia-Pacific on +61 2 9333 0950
The IFJ represents more than 600,000 journalists in 131
countries
Find the IFJ on Twitter: @ifjasiapacific