TVB journalist denies blocking way

A journalist attacked outside the Beijing home of the wife of jailed dissident Liu Xiaobo has rejected a mainland police claim that he was causing an obstruction when the assault happened.

TVB, employer of cameraman Tam Wing-man, said Tam had been told while giving evidence at a police station on Thursday that the assault was his fault for blocking the way. The broadcaster said Tam was also asked if he knew the rules for reporting outside Hong Kong.

The person taking evidence refused to give Tam his name or job title, it said.

Tam was punched in the face, pushed to the ground and stamped on by five or six men while he was covering an attempt by Hong Kong activist Yang Kuang to visit Liu Xia on Friday last week.

Now TV cameraman Wong Kim-fai and Yang were also attacked. After the beatings, the men continued to push the group of Hong Kong journalists away and yell abuse at them.

A medical report showed that Tam had chest injuries and his forehead was swollen. His camera was also damaged. TVB said it was the third time Tam had given evidence at the Yangfangdian police station in Beijing. The first was on the night when he was attacked and the second on Monday.