Press Freedom Under Attack in Hong Kong

Journalists on the frontlines reporting on last year's protests

 

Press freedom in Hong Kong continues to be in a perilous state, with Chief Secretary Matthew Cheung Kin-chung reiterating what the police force said earlier this week, that the force's definition of who a journalist is will make it easier for front-line officers to distinguish between bona fide reporters and those "fake reporters" who blend into the crowd.

In his blog today, Cheung also said that press freedom in the city was protected by the Basic Law, adding more than 200 media organizations, including more than 30 online outlets were registered with the official Government News and Media Information Service.

However, how many of those 200 media organizations does the Hong Kong Police recognize?

Press freedom continues to be eroded by police

On Tuesday the force announced that only those reporters who were registered with the government news service or who work for "well known international media were "journalists".

Previously the definition of journalist included anyone with credentials from a local media organization, along with members of two press unions.

A coalition of eight media groups said on Thursday they were considering a legal challenge to the policy, adding the police had failed to substantiate claims about bogus journalists. In addition journalism instructors from the various universities in Hong Kong blasted the policy, saying it excluded student journalists.

They have been crucial frontline reporters who have courageously recorded incidents police brutality last year.  These include: police beating up passengers in the MTR carriage at Prince Edward station on August 31; an officer shot a protester at point blank range in Sai Wan Ho on November 11; another protester shot on October 1 by police.

The most recent clip by student reporters was on September 6, earlier this month, when several officers pinned down a 12-year-old girl in Mongkok.

After the Foreign Correspondents' Club wrote an open letter firmly opposing the move, the Foreign Ministry office in Hong Kong also weighed in, accusing the FCC of "meddling with Hong Kong affairs on the pretext of press freedom". 

Student reporter captured officer shooting protester

Unbelievable... the job of the FCC to speak out about press freedom the city.

Meanwhile, RTHK has reopened an investigation into reporter, Nabela Qoser, who is known for her blunt questions directed at government officials.

During last year's protests she asked very pointed questions at Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor and Secretary for Security Stephen Lo Wai-chung.

After the Yuen Long attacks of white-shirted men on people in the MTR station, Qoser asked Lam in Cantonese, "Where were you all last night?" and demanded that Lam "answer like a human being".

While many people praised her for asking what everyone wanted to know, pro-Beijing media have accused her of being "rude to government officials" and some have even urged RTHK to fire her. 

A staff member at RTHK who spoke on condition of anonymity said it was frustrating to see management assessing staff based on external pressure, and not on the merits of their work.

RTHK's Nabela Qoser known for her blunt style

"We've been fighting on the frontline, but the management are now working with some external force to suppress us," the person said.

The employee added Qoser has passed all six of her appraisals over the past three years.

Press freedom is very vulnerable in Hong Kong now. While there are reporters working hard to get the truth out, at the same time everyone must do whatever they can to protect press freedom from being further eroded.