#AsiasFinest #Elderly
Police Shove and Pepper-sprays Old Man While Dispersing Crowds

15:23 | #CWB
While riot police were dispersing citizens on the scene in Russell Street, they shove a old man who was walking slowly. They fired pepper spray directly to that old man. He is now receiving on-site first-aid assistance. Some reporters also suffered from the pepper spray while filming the scene.

Source: Editorial Board, HSUSU
#NationalAnthemLaw #NationalAnthemBill #HKProtests #Press #27May

#FirstHand #PoliceState #Press
Police Throws Insults and Attempts to Chase After Reporter

In the video, a riot police officer was seen losing his temper, pointing fingers and hurling insults on reporters in front of a police cordon line. “Why is that you every time?” His colleagues were attempting to stop him from chasing after the reporter.

#27May #FailedState #HumanitarianCrisis

#FirstHand #PoliceState
Riot Police Points Guns at Reporters While Retreating

19:20 | #Mongkok
While the riot police were retreating along Sai Yeung Choi South Street in Mong Kok, they pointed their guns loaded with pepper bullets at onlookers. They also shined their torches right at reporters.

#27May #FailedState #HumanitarianCrisis #Press

#FirstHand #27May #Press
Police Conducts Clearance Operation; Orders Press to Keep Their Distance

2248 | #Mongkok

The police were conducting a clearance operation on Nathan Road. While reporters were following behind the police to report news about the protest, two police officers detached themselves from the team and threatened the reporters with pepper spray, shouting at them to keep a distance and to not approach the cordon.

#PoliceState #HumanitarianCrisis #FailedState #HongKongProtest

#FirstHand #27May

2249 | Nathan Road, #Mongkok

Night falls, but police hostility towards reporters does not cease. One of our reporters was shoved and shone with large flashlights. On Nathan Road, their aggression is at full display.

#PoliceState #Press

Filming and Reporting Obstructed by Police; PPRB Superintendent chastised Journalists for Minutes

2033 | Prince Edward
On the intersection of Prince Edward Road West and Nathan Road, some i-Cable journalists was being obstructed and scolded by police officers. The Media Liaison Cadre, whose job is to facilitate media activities on the ground, and PPRB Superintendent Bon Kau had been continuously chastising the reporters for minutes, refusing to let the journalists answer or simply leave.

2041 |
Central and Western District Councilor Ho Chi Wang tried to film the police’s search on him, but was repeatedly stopped by riot police.

2127
Police were on alert in two lines to prevent civilians from approaching the station.

Source: Apple Daily; RTHK; Egg's Club #May31
#831PrinceEdward #PoliceState #Press

#Press #HongKongProtest
Behind the Scene: Reporters' Work in Hong Kong

Video taken on May 24, 2020 in Causeway Bay

Police denies access to information despite of Ombudsman Commission’s urge for open disclosure

Journalists of Citizen News asked the police in June last year to provide the titles of all chapters of the Police General Orders, citing the Code on Access to Information. However, the police refused to disclose the titles of each chapter on the grounds of impairing investigation, arrest, prosecution and maintaining public order.

In August 2019, the reporter lodged a complaint to the Ombudsman Commission. The Commission replied on May 13, nearly nine months after, and ruled the complaint case substantiated. The Commission noted that the title of the Police General Act only provided a general account of the subject matter of the relevant chapter and did not contain any specific content and would not lead to the situation described by the Police. The Police Force's statement was "far-fetched" and the Commission recommended the Police Force to reconsider the request for information from journalists in accordance with the Code.

However, the Police replied on May 27 that they were reviewing the Report by the Ombudsman Commission, without mentioning the expected completion time.

Source: Citizen News #June3
#Press #PoliceState #HongKongPolice

#PoliceBrutality #Press
Police Intercept Stand News Reporter

14:33 | Tsim Sha Tsui
Stand News reporter was stopped and searched by several riot police when reporting from Tsim Sha Tsui Clock Tower.

The police claimed that the reporter was "suspicious" and banned the reporter from filming by citing "privacy" reason. The police once disallowed the reporter from contacting his colleague.

Source: Stand News #June6

#PressFreedom
Police's "Friendly Attitude" to Reporters: Reporter hit by pepper ball
A HKEJ reporter was hit by pepper ball during the mass arrest in Times Square on July 1. His right leg was swollen and red. A first-aid helper helped to treat his wounds.

On the same day, a reporter from Flash Media was shot by water cannon trucks in head, and was expelled away.

Source: Stand News, Studio Incendo #Jul1
#PoliceState #PoliceBrutality #Press

Futher Reading: Angle 2: Police Water Cannon Expels Reporter from the Ground
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/23117

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Continue Reading

Tam Yiu-chung had an interview with Now News and said media do not need to worry after the implementation of the National Security Law. "I believe journalists can easily distinguish between news and propaganda. They should not take advantage of their position to spread propaganda. They will also not be accused indiscriminately.”

Chairperson of Hong Kong Journalists Association Chris Yeung said the definitions under the National Security Law were broad. The statement from Tam Yiu-chung reflected the determination of criminality will come from subjective judgement. They cannot tell the difference between "news" and "propaganda".

Mr Yeung said some pro-Beijing people always described Hong Kong journalists as "toxic media" and "black reporters." After implementing National Security Law, Mr Yeung said media would have self-censorship in the short term and doubts when reporting. He worried, if the self-censorship continues, the impact is not only to media but also to the whole society. It will be similar to mainland China. "Need to use VPN and take a big detour before reading information. Beat around the bush when talking."

Source: Apple Daily #Jul4
#Press #WhiteTerror

Reporters Suffer Head Injuries, Nose Bleeding and Allergies
Police: "Could Not Been Ideal"

A Flash Media reporter was hit in the head by the police water cannon on July 1, 2020. According to the Next Media Labour's Union, an Apple Daily reporter and a photographer were also attacked by the water cannon three times within 20 seconds.

The tear gas agent in the water cannon hit the reporter’s ear canal with high pressure, causing his nose to bleed while the photographer suffered from allergies and red skin.

The Hong Kong Journalist Association stated that while reporting the protest on July 1, many reporters were attacked by tear gas spray in Wan Chai and pepper spray in Causeway Bay. Many journalists were injured.

The Police Public Relations Branch CSP Kwok Ka-chuen replied to Stand News on July 2 that the aforementioned problem was discussed in the management meeting. “It could not have been ideal” for reporters to be injured in any police operation, Kwok said.

Source: Stand News #Jul3
#Press

Feature Story: The doomsday of the news department as witnessed by five i-Cable journalists

A large crowd gathered outside Cable TV Tower at Hoi Shing Road, Tsuen Wan, a rare scene. All pointing their cameras at the bright red Cable TV logo, a line of photo journalists would charge forward and press the shutters whenever there was any hint of activity inside.

Among the photos, there is one showing news reader Kenix Lau Tsz-Fung leaving with a suitcase which carried her outfits on cast. Sports journalist Chan Hon-Wai held a basketball to his chest. Veteran journalist Alex Sin Ching-Fung carried a carton with a sticker “3 HK” which became a talking point of the netizens. 

Source: Standnews #Dec01

#Doomsday #ICable #Journalists #Press

https://telegra.ph/Feature-Story-The-doomsday-of-the-news-department-as-witnessed-by-five-i-Cable-journalists-01-12

Red lines must be drawn more clearly to reaffirm press freedom in Hong Kong

Life in Hong Kong under the Beijing-imposed National Security Law is not quite a year old. But it has reached a watershed with the national security raids on Apple Daily’s office and the arrests of its executives. The most frequently cited cornerstone of Hong Kong’s success is “the rule of law”.

Another value often coupled with it is “a free flow of information”. So fundamental is this to the city’s way of life that it is safeguarded in the Basic Law, Hong Kong’s mini-constitution, with guarantees of freedom of speech, of the press and of publication.

Source: SCMP #Jun19

https://t.co/iIbjJs7KSp

#RedLine #Beijing #NationalSecurityLaw #Press #Freedom #HongKong

DN Debatt. ”To the People’s Republic of China”

Four leading newspapers from the Nordic countries join in a protest against China’s violation of freedom of the press in Hong Kong. The protest follows the closure of the newspaper Apple Daily and is published on the 100th anniversary of the foundation of the Chinese Communist Party.

It has been too much for a long time. Now, enough is enough. The world can no longer stand idly by as China gradually sucks the air out of freedom of the press in Hong Kong. Our hope that China would live up to its assurances and promises that basic democratic civil liberties would be defended and protected in Hong Kong has been dwindling lately, while our fear and disdain has been growing.

Source: DN SE #Jul01

https://www.dn.se/debatt/to-the-people-s-republic-of-china/

#PRC #Freedom #Press #Newspaper #AppleDaily

How Press Freedom Is Being Eroded in Hong Kong

Hong Kong’s raucous and politically diverse news media, though free from the constraints placed on journalism next door in mainland China, has contended with various threats over the years. But after a draconian national security law went into effect a year ago, those challenges have multiplied dramatically.

The growing pressure on the media was underscored on Wednesday when Apple Daily, a pro-democracy tabloid that is often critical of the Chinese and Hong Kong governments, said it had no choice but to close. The newspaper, which had been one of the most widely read in Hong Kong, is the subject of a national security investigation that has also imprisoned its founder, Jimmy Lai.

Source: NY Times #Jun24

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/23/world/asia/hong-kong-press-freedom.amp.html

#Press #Freedom #HongKong #AppleDaily #JimmyLai #China

Press groups raise alarm over threats to foreign media in China

Press groups have expressed alarm at the worsening intimidation of foreign media in China, often driven by government officials and organisations.

As recovery and rescue efforts continue in Henan province after last week’s deadly floods, groups including Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of China (FCCC) have condemned recent harassment and threats towards journalists covering the disaster.

Reporters from international outlets – including the BBC, Los Angeles Times, Deutsche Welle, Al Jazeera, CNN, Agence France-Presse and Associated Press – have been harassed or threatened over their coverage.

Source: The Guardian #Jul27

https://bit.ly/3zHwLYy
 
#China #Media #Press #Alarm #FCCC