#Breaking
Chung Kim-Wah says personal information of all Primary Election Voters has been destroyed already
Besides the mass arrest of the organiser and candidates of the "35+ Primary Election", the police also searched the office of the Hong Kong Public Opinion Research Institute (PORI) located in Wong Chuk Hang.
PORI assisted in the technical operation of the Primary Election held last July.
Vice president of PORI, Kim-Wah Chung, indicated that the personal data of the roughly 600,000 voters was already completely destroyed a few days following the Primary Election.
According to Chung, hard disks that stored the first 4 digits of the voters' HKID card and all related data were crushed by machines and no data was left behind, therefore voters should not worry about their information being compromised.
Chung criticised the government's intention to create white terror and intimidate everyone. He also thought that if a country is so fragile that even organising a primary election is considered "inciting subversion of state power," the country should review its system, rather than just arresting everyone who took part in the primary election.
He emphasized that the primary election was held only as a solution to an internal issue of a certain party, and the results had no legal effect; rather, it was just a gentleman’s agreement among candidates. He added that every individual, group or organisation should have the right to use various methods to address internal affairs; and the idea that the primary election incited subversion of state power was unconvincing.
Source: RTHK News; #Jan6
Photo source: Ming Pao
#MassArrest #DemocraticParty #PrimaryElection #NationalSecurityLaw
=== Related news
Benny Tai, Robert Chung, and fifty more Democratics arrested this morning for inciting subversion of state power through arranging ‘35+ Primary Election’
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/27803
Police ordered Stand News to submit documents to assist investigation into alleged national security law case
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/27808
Treasury of Power of Democracy John Clancey arrested, Police searched Ho Tse-Wei & parents firm
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/27814
Chung Kim-Wah says personal information of all Primary Election Voters has been destroyed already
Besides the mass arrest of the organiser and candidates of the "35+ Primary Election", the police also searched the office of the Hong Kong Public Opinion Research Institute (PORI) located in Wong Chuk Hang.
PORI assisted in the technical operation of the Primary Election held last July.
Vice president of PORI, Kim-Wah Chung, indicated that the personal data of the roughly 600,000 voters was already completely destroyed a few days following the Primary Election.
According to Chung, hard disks that stored the first 4 digits of the voters' HKID card and all related data were crushed by machines and no data was left behind, therefore voters should not worry about their information being compromised.
Chung criticised the government's intention to create white terror and intimidate everyone. He also thought that if a country is so fragile that even organising a primary election is considered "inciting subversion of state power," the country should review its system, rather than just arresting everyone who took part in the primary election.
He emphasized that the primary election was held only as a solution to an internal issue of a certain party, and the results had no legal effect; rather, it was just a gentleman’s agreement among candidates. He added that every individual, group or organisation should have the right to use various methods to address internal affairs; and the idea that the primary election incited subversion of state power was unconvincing.
Source: RTHK News; #Jan6
Photo source: Ming Pao
#MassArrest #DemocraticParty #PrimaryElection #NationalSecurityLaw
=== Related news
Benny Tai, Robert Chung, and fifty more Democratics arrested this morning for inciting subversion of state power through arranging ‘35+ Primary Election’
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/27803
Police ordered Stand News to submit documents to assist investigation into alleged national security law case
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/27808
Treasury of Power of Democracy John Clancey arrested, Police searched Ho Tse-Wei & parents firm
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/27814
#BREAKING #MassArrest
Pro-democracy lawyer and 10 more arrested by HK National Security Officer, suspected of assisting 12 Hongkongers fleeing for Taiwan
Source: Apple Daily, Cupid News; #Jan14
Read more
⬇️⬇️⬇️
Pro-democracy lawyer and 10 more arrested by HK National Security Officer, suspected of assisting 12 Hongkongers fleeing for Taiwan
Source: Apple Daily, Cupid News; #Jan14
Read more
⬇️⬇️⬇️
#BREAKING #MassArrest
Pro-democracy lawyer and 10 more arrested by HK National Security Officer, suspected of assisting 12 Hongkongers fleeing for Taiwan
This morning (January 14), another pro-democracy lawyer and founder of Aegis, a diner in Taipei, Daniel Wong Kwok-tung was arrested and taken away from his home by National Security police officers. Sources revealed that Wong and other 10 civilians, aged 18 to 42 were arrested for assisting the 12 youth fleeing Hong Kong for Taiwan last August.
Hong Kong police has not provided reasons of the arrest.
At around 6am, Daniel Wong, currently a district councilor of Kowloon City, wrote on his facebook that “the National Security Police will arrive at my home at around 6:10. Don’t know which police station I will be taken to. More details to come.”
Wong is known for his persistent in providing legal assistance to anti-ELAB protesters. He also founded #Aegis, a restaurant in Taiwan which employs Hong Kong residents seeking shelter in Taiwan.
Another vocal social activist, Willis Ho, former vice secretary general of Hong Kong Federation of Students, also wrote on her Facebook this morning, stating that her mother has been arrested and being taken to Tsuen Wan Police Station for investigation.
On January 6, Hong Kong Police deployed more than 1,000 officers and arrested more than 50 civilians in one day, including former legislators, district councilors and political activists involved in LegCo primaries last year. They were suspected of violating the National Security Law, although most of them were released on bail on the next day.
Read what happened on Jan 6, 2021 in Hong Kong:
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/27822
Source: Apple Daily, Cupid News; #Jan14
https://hk.appledaily.com/breaking/20210114/GSYWSZWLWREXFP3QLRJQLNIXQA/
Pro-democracy lawyer and 10 more arrested by HK National Security Officer, suspected of assisting 12 Hongkongers fleeing for Taiwan
This morning (January 14), another pro-democracy lawyer and founder of Aegis, a diner in Taipei, Daniel Wong Kwok-tung was arrested and taken away from his home by National Security police officers. Sources revealed that Wong and other 10 civilians, aged 18 to 42 were arrested for assisting the 12 youth fleeing Hong Kong for Taiwan last August.
Hong Kong police has not provided reasons of the arrest.
At around 6am, Daniel Wong, currently a district councilor of Kowloon City, wrote on his facebook that “the National Security Police will arrive at my home at around 6:10. Don’t know which police station I will be taken to. More details to come.”
Wong is known for his persistent in providing legal assistance to anti-ELAB protesters. He also founded #Aegis, a restaurant in Taiwan which employs Hong Kong residents seeking shelter in Taiwan.
Another vocal social activist, Willis Ho, former vice secretary general of Hong Kong Federation of Students, also wrote on her Facebook this morning, stating that her mother has been arrested and being taken to Tsuen Wan Police Station for investigation.
On January 6, Hong Kong Police deployed more than 1,000 officers and arrested more than 50 civilians in one day, including former legislators, district councilors and political activists involved in LegCo primaries last year. They were suspected of violating the National Security Law, although most of them were released on bail on the next day.
Read what happened on Jan 6, 2021 in Hong Kong:
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/27822
Source: Apple Daily, Cupid News; #Jan14
https://hk.appledaily.com/breaking/20210114/GSYWSZWLWREXFP3QLRJQLNIXQA/
Telegram
📡Guardians of Hong Kong
#PrimaryElection #106Crackdown
Authorities Launch #MassArrest in Hong Kong to Silence Pro-democracy Dissents
In Hong Kong, nearly 1,000 police officers were deployed on the morning of Wednesday, Jan 6, 2021, to carry out mass arrests, sweeping multiple locations…
Authorities Launch #MassArrest in Hong Kong to Silence Pro-democracy Dissents
In Hong Kong, nearly 1,000 police officers were deployed on the morning of Wednesday, Jan 6, 2021, to carry out mass arrests, sweeping multiple locations…
#Breaking #Sanction
US announces new sanctions against 6 linked to Mass Arrest of pro-democracy activists in HK
The US announced sanctions against six Hong Kong or Chinese officials connected to the mass arrests of pro-democracy activists on January 6.
The six people targeted for new sanctions include Frederic Choi, director of the national security division of the Hong Kong police; Sun Qingye, a deputy to Zheng Yanxiong, who was appointed in July to head a new national security office in Hong Kong.
Also named were pro-Beijing legislator Tam Yiu-chung, You Quan of China’s United Front Work Department, and Assistant Commissioners of Police for National Security, Kelvin Kong Hok-lai and Andrew Kan Kai-yan.
Source: Apple Daily, Reuters; #Jan16
US announces new sanctions against 6 linked to Mass Arrest of pro-democracy activists in HK
The US announced sanctions against six Hong Kong or Chinese officials connected to the mass arrests of pro-democracy activists on January 6.
The six people targeted for new sanctions include Frederic Choi, director of the national security division of the Hong Kong police; Sun Qingye, a deputy to Zheng Yanxiong, who was appointed in July to head a new national security office in Hong Kong.
Also named were pro-Beijing legislator Tam Yiu-chung, You Quan of China’s United Front Work Department, and Assistant Commissioners of Police for National Security, Kelvin Kong Hok-lai and Andrew Kan Kai-yan.
Source: Apple Daily, Reuters; #Jan16
Media is too big
VIEW IN TELEGRAM
#Breaking
#PoliceState #WuhanPneumonia
Hong Kong Government Imposes Last-minute Compulsory Lockdown in Jordan District; Police Order Reporters to Leave
Video: InMedia
Source: InMedia; RTHK #Jan23
Read more
⬇️⬇️⬇️
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/28098
#PoliceState #WuhanPneumonia
Hong Kong Government Imposes Last-minute Compulsory Lockdown in Jordan District; Police Order Reporters to Leave
Video: InMedia
Source: InMedia; RTHK #Jan23
Read more
⬇️⬇️⬇️
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/28098
#Breaking #PoliceState #WuhanPneumonia
Hong Kong Government Imposes Last-minute Compulsory Lockdown in Jordan District; Police Order Reporters to Leave
At 4am on Jan 23, 2021, the Hong Kong government cited the chapter 599J of the Regulations on Disease Prevention and Control and announced a compulsory lockdown of an area in the Jordan district.
The government refused to respond to any decision made on Jan 22, while police started to station in the area on Friday evening. Not until the early morning of Jan 23, the government issued a press release about the sudden lockdown.
Watch the video:
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/28097
The ''restricted'' area is encircled by Woosung Street in the east, Nanking Street in the south, Battery Street in the west, and Kansu Street in the north.
Civilians are not allowed to leave the area until everyone in the area has taken a test and the results have been confirmed. the government has also issued mandatory inspection notices for all premises in the "restricted area". Anyone who has been in the "restricted area" for more than two hours in the past 14 days is also mandated to undergo testing before midnight on Jan 23.
The authorities claimed that they aim to complete all the tests within 48 hours, so that civilians can go to work on Monday.
According to InMedia, police ordered reporters on site to leave and the communication was confusing.
Video: InMedia
Source: InMedia; RTHK #Jan23
http://news.rthk.hk/rthk/en/component/k2/1571933-20210123.htmn
#Lockdown #Covid19 #CoronavirusPandemic
Hong Kong Government Imposes Last-minute Compulsory Lockdown in Jordan District; Police Order Reporters to Leave
At 4am on Jan 23, 2021, the Hong Kong government cited the chapter 599J of the Regulations on Disease Prevention and Control and announced a compulsory lockdown of an area in the Jordan district.
The government refused to respond to any decision made on Jan 22, while police started to station in the area on Friday evening. Not until the early morning of Jan 23, the government issued a press release about the sudden lockdown.
Watch the video:
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/28097
The ''restricted'' area is encircled by Woosung Street in the east, Nanking Street in the south, Battery Street in the west, and Kansu Street in the north.
Civilians are not allowed to leave the area until everyone in the area has taken a test and the results have been confirmed. the government has also issued mandatory inspection notices for all premises in the "restricted area". Anyone who has been in the "restricted area" for more than two hours in the past 14 days is also mandated to undergo testing before midnight on Jan 23.
The authorities claimed that they aim to complete all the tests within 48 hours, so that civilians can go to work on Monday.
According to InMedia, police ordered reporters on site to leave and the communication was confusing.
Video: InMedia
Source: InMedia; RTHK #Jan23
http://news.rthk.hk/rthk/en/component/k2/1571933-20210123.htmn
#Lockdown #Covid19 #CoronavirusPandemic
Telegram
📡Guardians of Hong Kong
#Breaking
#PoliceState #WuhanPneumonia
Hong Kong Government Imposes Last-minute Compulsory Lockdown in Jordan District; Police Order Reporters to Leave
Video: InMedia
Source: InMedia; RTHK #Jan23
Read more
⬇️⬇️⬇️
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/28098
#PoliceState #WuhanPneumonia
Hong Kong Government Imposes Last-minute Compulsory Lockdown in Jordan District; Police Order Reporters to Leave
Video: InMedia
Source: InMedia; RTHK #Jan23
Read more
⬇️⬇️⬇️
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/28098
#Breaking #PoliceState
HK Police raid university twice in a fortnight and arrest Chairman of Student Association
On January 11, 2021, several civilians wearing black reportedly charged the security barrier at the guard post of the Chinese University of Hong Kong (#CUHK), calling on students entering the campus not to show their student ID cards. One of them threw unknown white powder over a guard before fleeing the scene. After a brief chase, one was arrested.
On the evening of January 25, 2021, police officers raided three student dormitories at the university. Sources revealed that police arrested three more students in connection with the case. The arrestees include the Chairman of the Interim Administrative Committee of the Chinese University Students' Association, Au Cheuk-hei, who is then detained in Shatin Police Station for investigation.
Source: Apple Daily, #Jan25
https://hk.appledaily.com/breaking/20210125/TJ6EZMDAVNCNHBSDVCDQHMIC7Q/
#Arrest #University
HK Police raid university twice in a fortnight and arrest Chairman of Student Association
On January 11, 2021, several civilians wearing black reportedly charged the security barrier at the guard post of the Chinese University of Hong Kong (#CUHK), calling on students entering the campus not to show their student ID cards. One of them threw unknown white powder over a guard before fleeing the scene. After a brief chase, one was arrested.
On the evening of January 25, 2021, police officers raided three student dormitories at the university. Sources revealed that police arrested three more students in connection with the case. The arrestees include the Chairman of the Interim Administrative Committee of the Chinese University Students' Association, Au Cheuk-hei, who is then detained in Shatin Police Station for investigation.
Source: Apple Daily, #Jan25
https://hk.appledaily.com/breaking/20210125/TJ6EZMDAVNCNHBSDVCDQHMIC7Q/
#Arrest #University
#Breaking
HK Gov't to Impose More #Lockdowns and Mandatory Tests
Hong Kong's Chief Secretary for Administration #MatthewCheung announced on Feb 1, 2021 that any building found with one positive #COVID19 case with an unidentifiable source or a positive sewage report will be enlisted for mandatory testing.
Cheung said more lockdowns and mandatory testing notices are to be expected in the next 10 days.
Between Jan 23 and 31, 2021, the Hong Kong government has imposed 4 mandatory lockdowns in Jordan, Yau Ma Tei, North Point and Lam Tin. Residents and district councillors voiced out their discontent about the chaotic arrangement, especially when many affected residents had already been subjected to mandatory testing before the governmemt's implementation of an additional lockdown. After the first lockdown on Jan 23, Chief Executive #CarrieLam and government officials denied that residents were obstructed in what Lam called the "ambush-style" lockdown.
Source: InMedia; Apple Daily #Feb1
https://bit.ly/39DoNVP
HK Gov't to Impose More #Lockdowns and Mandatory Tests
Hong Kong's Chief Secretary for Administration #MatthewCheung announced on Feb 1, 2021 that any building found with one positive #COVID19 case with an unidentifiable source or a positive sewage report will be enlisted for mandatory testing.
Cheung said more lockdowns and mandatory testing notices are to be expected in the next 10 days.
Between Jan 23 and 31, 2021, the Hong Kong government has imposed 4 mandatory lockdowns in Jordan, Yau Ma Tei, North Point and Lam Tin. Residents and district councillors voiced out their discontent about the chaotic arrangement, especially when many affected residents had already been subjected to mandatory testing before the governmemt's implementation of an additional lockdown. After the first lockdown on Jan 23, Chief Executive #CarrieLam and government officials denied that residents were obstructed in what Lam called the "ambush-style" lockdown.
Source: InMedia; Apple Daily #Feb1
https://bit.ly/39DoNVP
#Breaking
#PoliticalOppression #Censorship
HK Government Bans Pro-democracy Group's Flower Stall in Lunar New Year Market
Source: Apple Daily; RTHK #Feb6
Read more
⬇️⬇️⬇️
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/28469
#PoliticalOppression #Censorship
HK Government Bans Pro-democracy Group's Flower Stall in Lunar New Year Market
Source: Apple Daily; RTHK #Feb6
Read more
⬇️⬇️⬇️
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/28469
#Breaking
#PoliticalOppression #Censorship
HK Government Bans Pro-democracy Group's Flower Stall in Lunar New Year Market
Founded in Hong Kong in 1989, The Alliance in Support of Democratic Patriotic Movements in China organizes the annual June Fourth candlelight vigil at Hong Kong's Victoria Park, in commemoration of the victims of the 1989 Tiananmen Square Massacre in China.
The Alliance has been running a flower stall at the annual Lunar New Year Market in Hong Kong since 1990 for more than 30 years.
However, after midnight on Feb 6, 2021, the Hong Kong government suddenly terminated the contract for their stall, claiming that they have displayed "irrelevant banners".
In the evening before, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (#FEHD) had ordered the Alliance to remove "banners with political messages" within 2 hours, but without naming them.
The Alliance told Apple Daily that they had no idea which banner carries "political message" in the eye of the government. In the end, they covered the word "donation" and the slogans "Vindicate June Fourth" and "For Freedom, Fight Together".
Despite their willingness to co-operate, the authorities decided to ban the stall completely before they could open. At around 8:30am on Feb 6, the government sent staff to cordon off the area with plastic tape, leaving no ground for discussion.
The chairman of the Alliance Lee Cheuk-yan said that in the past 32 years, the Alliance was able to display similar messages.
Source: Apple Daily; RTHK #Feb6
https://bit.ly/2Ln5K8J
#CNYMarket #VictoriaPark #PoliceState #JuneFourth #FlowerStall #LeeCheukYan
#PoliticalOppression #Censorship
HK Government Bans Pro-democracy Group's Flower Stall in Lunar New Year Market
Founded in Hong Kong in 1989, The Alliance in Support of Democratic Patriotic Movements in China organizes the annual June Fourth candlelight vigil at Hong Kong's Victoria Park, in commemoration of the victims of the 1989 Tiananmen Square Massacre in China.
The Alliance has been running a flower stall at the annual Lunar New Year Market in Hong Kong since 1990 for more than 30 years.
However, after midnight on Feb 6, 2021, the Hong Kong government suddenly terminated the contract for their stall, claiming that they have displayed "irrelevant banners".
In the evening before, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (#FEHD) had ordered the Alliance to remove "banners with political messages" within 2 hours, but without naming them.
The Alliance told Apple Daily that they had no idea which banner carries "political message" in the eye of the government. In the end, they covered the word "donation" and the slogans "Vindicate June Fourth" and "For Freedom, Fight Together".
Despite their willingness to co-operate, the authorities decided to ban the stall completely before they could open. At around 8:30am on Feb 6, the government sent staff to cordon off the area with plastic tape, leaving no ground for discussion.
The chairman of the Alliance Lee Cheuk-yan said that in the past 32 years, the Alliance was able to display similar messages.
Source: Apple Daily; RTHK #Feb6
https://bit.ly/2Ln5K8J
#CNYMarket #VictoriaPark #PoliceState #JuneFourth #FlowerStall #LeeCheukYan
#Breaking #Mainlandization #1C1S
Public Broadcaster in Hong Kong Follows China's Decision to Lift #BBC
Recently, the British authorities cancelled the licence of the Chinese Communist Party-funded English channel #CGTN in the United Kingdom.
On the early morning of Feb 12, 2021, Beijing responded by accusing BBC of "serious content violations" and banning BBC World News in "Chinese territory".
Two Reuters journalists in China said the channel had gone blank on their screens. Although it was said that BBC would remain available in Hong Kong, the public broadcaster #RTHK in Hong Kong announced on the same day that BBC World News would be lifted from their program from 11pm onwards that day, due to the decision of the broadcasting regulator in Beijing.
Source: RTHK #Feb12
https://news.rthk.hk/rthk/en/component/k2/1575376-20210212.htm
#UK #CCPControl #Regime #Retaliation #Censorship
Public Broadcaster in Hong Kong Follows China's Decision to Lift #BBC
Recently, the British authorities cancelled the licence of the Chinese Communist Party-funded English channel #CGTN in the United Kingdom.
On the early morning of Feb 12, 2021, Beijing responded by accusing BBC of "serious content violations" and banning BBC World News in "Chinese territory".
Two Reuters journalists in China said the channel had gone blank on their screens. Although it was said that BBC would remain available in Hong Kong, the public broadcaster #RTHK in Hong Kong announced on the same day that BBC World News would be lifted from their program from 11pm onwards that day, due to the decision of the broadcasting regulator in Beijing.
Source: RTHK #Feb12
https://news.rthk.hk/rthk/en/component/k2/1575376-20210212.htm
#UK #CCPControl #Regime #Retaliation #Censorship
#TokyoOlympics #Sports
#Breaking: Gold Medal for Hong Kong Fencer Cheung Ka Long
Hong Kong Fencer #CheungKaLong clinches gold in Men's Foil Individual, defeating Italian Daniele Garozzo 15:11, earning the second ever Olympic gold medal in Hong Kong history.
Source: Stand News #Jul26
#GoldMedal #Hongkongers
#Breaking: Gold Medal for Hong Kong Fencer Cheung Ka Long
Hong Kong Fencer #CheungKaLong clinches gold in Men's Foil Individual, defeating Italian Daniele Garozzo 15:11, earning the second ever Olympic gold medal in Hong Kong history.
Source: Stand News #Jul26
#GoldMedal #Hongkongers
#Breaking
Breaking: Hong Kong Journalists Association deeply concerned that National Security Department detained a journalist and withheld travel documents to assist in investigation
On July 27, 2021, the Hong Kong Journalists Association (#HKJA) released a statement, condemning the National Security Police for confiscating the travel document of a reporter, who is assisting the police in investigation.
The case involved a man called #LeungKinFai who died after stabbing himself and knifing a policeman in Causeway Bay on July 1, 2021.
#PressFreedom
Source: Hong Kong Journalists Association #Jul27
Read more
⬇️⬇️⬇️
Breaking: Hong Kong Journalists Association deeply concerned that National Security Department detained a journalist and withheld travel documents to assist in investigation
On July 27, 2021, the Hong Kong Journalists Association (#HKJA) released a statement, condemning the National Security Police for confiscating the travel document of a reporter, who is assisting the police in investigation.
The case involved a man called #LeungKinFai who died after stabbing himself and knifing a policeman in Causeway Bay on July 1, 2021.
#PressFreedom
Source: Hong Kong Journalists Association #Jul27
Read more
⬇️⬇️⬇️
#Breaking #PressFreedom
Breaking: Hong Kong Journalists Association deeply concerned that National Security Department detained a journalist and withheld travel documents to assist in investigation
The reporter who recorded the incident live belongs to an online news outlet. Accompanied by the lawyer of the HKJA, the reporter gave her testimony to the police at the Police Headquarters on the following day. The police said they will contact her through her lawyer if necessary, and will also notify the Journalists Association. Her role, according to the police, was to "assist in investigation".
However, at 11pm on July 26, 2021, without making contact through the lawyer, the national security police arrived at the temporary residence of the reporter, and demanded yet another testimony at the Police Headquarters.
Accompanied by national security personnel, the reporter then called her lawyer, only to tell the lawyer that their presence was not needed at the police station.
The reporter gave another testimony to the national security police, and was only accompanied by a friend. The reporter was taken to her original residence for the police to "collect evidence". The police also confiscated the travel document of the reporter.
The police had also not contacted the HKJA as promised. After learning of the incident, the Association immediately contacted the police to express their disapproval. After much deliberation, the HKJA lawyer was finally able to arrive at Chai Wan Police Station to accompany the journalist at 1am July 27.
As the HKJA learned, the journalist's role is still to "assist in investigation". However, she has now already given a cautioned statement, and the police has confiscated her travel documents. Furthermore, the documents are detained under authority of the National Security Department.
The HKJA stresses that a reporter who recorded a suspected crime being committed on live video is only carrying out their duty as a journalist. The reporter had also carried out their civic duty of assisting the police investigation, and should receive only recognition, rather than the treatment this journalist had received.
The HKJA demands an immediate explanation from the police, whether the reporter involved is only "assisting in investigation". If so, why did the police search her residence and confiscate her travel documents?
Following from the above, do future witnesses or potential witnesses also risk having their travel documents confiscated?
The HKJA stresses that this incident is equivalent to a threat against all journalists in Hong Kong. If merely recording an incident could turn a journalist into a suspect, then how can journalists perform their work with a peace of mind?
Government officials have said multiple times that the National Security Law only "affects a small handful of people". However, the acts of the National Security Department here is entirely contrary to the words of the officials. Because of it, all journalists in Hong Kong have been "affected", even "threatened".
HKJA calls for the police to respond immediately to the incident. The association also calls on all journalists to follow the incident, to safeguard the freedom of press and our own rights.
Source: Hong Kong Journalists Association #Jul27
https://www.facebook.com/242729300308/posts/10159255381655309/?sfnsn=mo
Breaking: Hong Kong Journalists Association deeply concerned that National Security Department detained a journalist and withheld travel documents to assist in investigation
The reporter who recorded the incident live belongs to an online news outlet. Accompanied by the lawyer of the HKJA, the reporter gave her testimony to the police at the Police Headquarters on the following day. The police said they will contact her through her lawyer if necessary, and will also notify the Journalists Association. Her role, according to the police, was to "assist in investigation".
However, at 11pm on July 26, 2021, without making contact through the lawyer, the national security police arrived at the temporary residence of the reporter, and demanded yet another testimony at the Police Headquarters.
Accompanied by national security personnel, the reporter then called her lawyer, only to tell the lawyer that their presence was not needed at the police station.
The reporter gave another testimony to the national security police, and was only accompanied by a friend. The reporter was taken to her original residence for the police to "collect evidence". The police also confiscated the travel document of the reporter.
The police had also not contacted the HKJA as promised. After learning of the incident, the Association immediately contacted the police to express their disapproval. After much deliberation, the HKJA lawyer was finally able to arrive at Chai Wan Police Station to accompany the journalist at 1am July 27.
As the HKJA learned, the journalist's role is still to "assist in investigation". However, she has now already given a cautioned statement, and the police has confiscated her travel documents. Furthermore, the documents are detained under authority of the National Security Department.
The HKJA stresses that a reporter who recorded a suspected crime being committed on live video is only carrying out their duty as a journalist. The reporter had also carried out their civic duty of assisting the police investigation, and should receive only recognition, rather than the treatment this journalist had received.
The HKJA demands an immediate explanation from the police, whether the reporter involved is only "assisting in investigation". If so, why did the police search her residence and confiscate her travel documents?
Following from the above, do future witnesses or potential witnesses also risk having their travel documents confiscated?
The HKJA stresses that this incident is equivalent to a threat against all journalists in Hong Kong. If merely recording an incident could turn a journalist into a suspect, then how can journalists perform their work with a peace of mind?
Government officials have said multiple times that the National Security Law only "affects a small handful of people". However, the acts of the National Security Department here is entirely contrary to the words of the officials. Because of it, all journalists in Hong Kong have been "affected", even "threatened".
HKJA calls for the police to respond immediately to the incident. The association also calls on all journalists to follow the incident, to safeguard the freedom of press and our own rights.
Source: Hong Kong Journalists Association #Jul27
https://www.facebook.com/242729300308/posts/10159255381655309/?sfnsn=mo
Facebook
Log in or sign up to view
See posts, photos and more on Facebook.