Hong Kong press associations condemn arrest of journalists carrying out investigative reporting in Clear Water Bay
- Two Next Magazine journalists were arrested for loitering outside a private property and taken to Tseung Kwan O Police Station, before being released
- Hong Kong Journalists Association and Hong Kong Press Photographers Association issue a joint statement saying the action impeded press freedom
Two associations representing Hong Kong journalists have condemned the arrest of two reporters outside a private property, saying they were conducting investigative work related to a senior police figure.
The Hong Kong Journalists Association and the Hong Kong Press Photographers Association issued a joint statement late on Tuesday night after officers arrested two Next Magazine journalists for loitering, one of whom was handcuffed when taken to a police station.
The force said it responded to an emergency call from a member of the public, and insisted that both suspects were released after investigation and clarification.
On Tuesday, two Next Magazine journalists visited Pik Shui Sun Tsuen in Clear Water Bay, Sai Kung, at around 4.30pm, reportedly to gather information for a story related to assistant police commissioner Rupert Dover.
They were arrested at the scene after officers asked them what report they were working on, although they were wearing their press cards and identified themselves as journalists, according to a statement published by the two associations based on information provided by the magazine and its sister publication, Chinese-language newspaper Apple Daily.