Journalists union condemns attack on Hong Kong TV station vehicle by protesters during clashes at Wong Tai Sin

The Hong Kong Journalists Association issued a statement on Wednesday condemning protesters who blocked and destroyed a news vehicle from the city’s largest television broadcaster on Monday in Wong Tai Sin.

According to the statement, a TVB news van was blocked by protesters on Lung Cheung Road near Wong Tai Sin Centre in the early hours of Monday morning, near where tear gas rounds were fired by riot police against protesters during a protest.

“The HKJA condemns such violent behaviour and demands the relevant individuals stop their violent action against journalists,” the association said. “The HKJA believes that every frontline journalist is sincerely carrying out his or her duties of reporting and exercising the role of the fourth estate, which should not be infringed.”

TVB broadcast the obstruction and destruction in Wong Tai Sin. Dozens of protesters stood in front of the van refusing to let it pass. The television station reported that protesters hammered the van’s windows with blunt objects and tried to open the door of the vehicle. Some protesters also tried to jam traffic cones under the van.

There have been a few similar cases, according to media reports. On Sunday night, protesters shattered the windows of a TVB van in Kwun Tong. A reporter and a photographer in the van were injured. TVB condemned the assault and destruction and urged the police to investigate.

The station, established in 1967, has become the target of protesters’ ire in recent months. Posts on online forums accused the station’s reporting of being biased in favour of the government and the pro-establishment camp during the protests against the controversial extradition bill, which would have allowed the transfer of fugitives to mainland China, among other jurisdictions.