Hong Kong police offer protection to newspaper staff after ‘gagging threat’ ahead of leadership election
Media organisation critical of chief executive complains of suspicious people lurking near office and employees being stalked
Police are offering protection to senior staff of the Chinese-language Sing Pao Daily News after receiving complaints of suspicious people hanging around the building and stalking employees.
In a statement on Tuesday the newspaper said: “Since mid-February, there were suddenly a large group of suspicious people – who appeared to be mainlanders – hanging around outside the building of the newspaper as well as the homes of some senior staff members.”
Among those shadowed was chief editor Lau Mei-yee, the Post has learned. A police source said Lau had filed a report on Sunday about threats to her personal safety and she had also called on behalf of the newspaper.
A picture of at least one staff member had appeared in a “threatening” bill posted near an employee’s home and the newspaper believed the photo was cropped from their home return permit, the travel document that enables Hong Kong residents to travel to mainland China.
Gu issued a statement condemning “the use of uncivilised means against a media organisation” and questioned whether rule of law still existed in Hong Kong. He expressed fears for staff and urged the police to find the culprits as soon as possible.
“[The series of critical reports] might have affected those with established interests. It is suspected that someone is thus taking revenge [against the newspaper].”