Hong Kong press associations ‘strongly condemn’ attacks on journalists at Yuen Long MTR station
- At least four local journalists attacked by white-clad mob on Sunday, including a woman who was beaten while filming live
- Media groups denounce violence as ‘serious threat to freedom of press and speech’ – and call on police to deliver justice
Hong Kong press associations have condemned the late-night attack on passengers and journalists at a railway station that left at least four reporters injured.
Members of the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Hong Kong said they were planning to hold a silent protest on Tuesday outside the FCC building in Central under the banner “Yes to press freedom, no to violence against journalists”.
A joint statement issued on Monday by the Hong Kong Journalists Association (HKJA), the Hong Kong Press Photographers Association and the Independent Commentators Association, made an urgent appeal to the local police to protect citizens and journalists.
“The assault on journalists constitutes a severe infringement of press freedom and the public’s right to know, and hinders [journalists] from fulfilling their duty as the fourth estate,” the statement read.
“We strongly condemn such violent acts and demand the police arrest the attackers still at large.”
Because of the work of journalists, the public is able to understand the truth