#Opinion #HongkongersVoice #ChanSikChi
Could the Police's new definition on Media Representatives be sensibly implemented?
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https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/25799
Could the Police's new definition on Media Representatives be sensibly implemented?
Read more
⬇️⬇️⬇️
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/25799
#Opinion #HongkongersVoice #ChanSikChi
Could the Police's new definition on Media Representatives be sensibly implemented?
When I woke up in the early morning, I felt autumn in the air which is perhaps the best time of a year in Hong Kong. Regrettably, “best” is no longer an appropriate word for this battered city.
Last week, the Hong Kong Police amended the Police General Orders and shocked the public with their new definition of “media representatives”. Although the media has responded strongly with disapproval, the Force backed their decision, taking media objections as mere nuisance.
A day later, seven universities and tertiary institutions joined hands and issued a statement reprimanding the Police for stripping press freedom in Hong Kong, which is under the citizens' rights granted under the Basic Law.
Attempting to ratify the trouble they asked, officers of Police Public Relations Branch anxiously called and supplemented senior management of local media with a softer message, claiming themselves as “sources”. According to these sources, as long as reporters are not obstructing police from carrying out their duty, officers would not get in the way of any journalistic activity, claiming also that reporters can continue reporting any event in public area, and so forth.
Apparently, these “sources” are telling lies. In reality, on the same day as the Police announced the amendment, when a photographer from Apple Daily stood on his own on a footbridge, covering a vigil held in remembrance of the deceased pro-democracy protester Chan Yin-lam, he was ticketed for violating the gathering ban. Isn’t it bizarre for one person to violate the rule-of-4 restriction?
Moreover, when the photographer showed his press ID as instructed, the police responded that they don’t recognise Apple Daily, forcing him to register with PPRB again.
Obviously, Apple Daily is a registered media on the Government News & Media Information System (GNMIS). It is also hard to believe that any police officer in Hong Kong would not recognise Apple Daily. The incident showed how easily one could trump up a charge if they are intended to find fault and obstruct reporters from reporting.
Implementation of the Police's new definition on media representatives—only those registered on the Government News and Media Information System (GNMIS) will be recognized media outlets—is barely possible. Among the 200 some media outlets already registered on GNMIS, should police officers not recognize Apple Daily, how can they recognize other smaller and less known media outlets.
I could also foresee that HK police deploying "stop and search" operations on a whim to search reporters one-by-one, in order to restrain reporters' mobility at a scene.
A reporter from Ming Pao was once “kept” in a cordoned area for more than 40 minutes, awaited to be searched. When he was eventually released, the clash ended, leaving him nothing to report.
Could this be the reality the Hong Kong Police Force is attempting to enforce upon Hong Kong?
Source: Apple Daily #Sept26
#WhiteTerror #PoliticalOppression
Could the Police's new definition on Media Representatives be sensibly implemented?
When I woke up in the early morning, I felt autumn in the air which is perhaps the best time of a year in Hong Kong. Regrettably, “best” is no longer an appropriate word for this battered city.
Last week, the Hong Kong Police amended the Police General Orders and shocked the public with their new definition of “media representatives”. Although the media has responded strongly with disapproval, the Force backed their decision, taking media objections as mere nuisance.
A day later, seven universities and tertiary institutions joined hands and issued a statement reprimanding the Police for stripping press freedom in Hong Kong, which is under the citizens' rights granted under the Basic Law.
Attempting to ratify the trouble they asked, officers of Police Public Relations Branch anxiously called and supplemented senior management of local media with a softer message, claiming themselves as “sources”. According to these sources, as long as reporters are not obstructing police from carrying out their duty, officers would not get in the way of any journalistic activity, claiming also that reporters can continue reporting any event in public area, and so forth.
Apparently, these “sources” are telling lies. In reality, on the same day as the Police announced the amendment, when a photographer from Apple Daily stood on his own on a footbridge, covering a vigil held in remembrance of the deceased pro-democracy protester Chan Yin-lam, he was ticketed for violating the gathering ban. Isn’t it bizarre for one person to violate the rule-of-4 restriction?
Moreover, when the photographer showed his press ID as instructed, the police responded that they don’t recognise Apple Daily, forcing him to register with PPRB again.
Obviously, Apple Daily is a registered media on the Government News & Media Information System (GNMIS). It is also hard to believe that any police officer in Hong Kong would not recognise Apple Daily. The incident showed how easily one could trump up a charge if they are intended to find fault and obstruct reporters from reporting.
Implementation of the Police's new definition on media representatives—only those registered on the Government News and Media Information System (GNMIS) will be recognized media outlets—is barely possible. Among the 200 some media outlets already registered on GNMIS, should police officers not recognize Apple Daily, how can they recognize other smaller and less known media outlets.
I could also foresee that HK police deploying "stop and search" operations on a whim to search reporters one-by-one, in order to restrain reporters' mobility at a scene.
A reporter from Ming Pao was once “kept” in a cordoned area for more than 40 minutes, awaited to be searched. When he was eventually released, the clash ended, leaving him nothing to report.
Could this be the reality the Hong Kong Police Force is attempting to enforce upon Hong Kong?
Source: Apple Daily #Sept26
#WhiteTerror #PoliticalOppression