A leading journalists' union yesterday petitioned state leaders to shelve restrictions in a proposed law that would penalise mainland and foreign media if they reported emergencies without approval.
The letter by the Hong Kong Journalists Association was sent to Premier Wen Jiabao and Wu Bangguo , chairman of the National People's Congress.
'The Journalists Association is extremely worried about the relevant regulations and explanation, and believes it is a serious breach of the principal of freedom of the press which would rob the public of their right to information,' the letter said. The bill, which has been studied by the NPC Standing Committee, would allow authorities to impose fines of 50,000 to 100,000 yuan on media outlets that run independent reports on public emergencies, which are deemed to be inaccurate.
'Both mainland compatriots and Hong Kong citizens pay great attention to mainland affairs and our association hopes members of the NPC Standing Committee will understand [these] tightly-knit relations and will seriously consider withdrawing these clauses to dispel public doubts,' the union said.
It also called for the relaxation of other regulations that restrict journalists from Hong Kong and Macau in gathering information on the mainland.
Copies of the letter were also set to Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen and Gao Siren , director of the central government's liaison office in Hong Kong.
