Journalists' group leaves jailed reporter off agenda
The first pro-Beijing journalists' association says it will work for press freedom - but has no plans to demand the release of jailed Ming Pao reporter Xi Yang or an end to the ban on Apple Daily reporting from China.
'The agenda does not include fighting for someone's rights and interests, such as those of Xi Yang and the Apple Daily,' said Edgar Yuen Kee-wang, vice-chairman of the Hong Kong Federation of Journalists.
The association, which was launched yesterday, did not have adequate knowledge of the issues, he said.
'For the Xi Yang incident, we do not understand its cause and development,' said Mr Yuen, the deputy chief editor of the Commercial Daily.
'The issue of Apple Daily is an internal matter of the Chinese Government,' he said. 'We can't affect their domestic policy. Moreover, we do not have a good understanding of it.' The federation will focus on training journalists.
But Mr Yuen said fighting for press freedom was also on the agenda.
Xinhua (the New China News Agency) Director Zhou Nan , his deputy Zhang Junsheng and a number of Preparatory Committee members attended the launch.
About 80 per cent of the more than 100 members are from pro-Beijing newspapers.
