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
Stand News reported that one of its women journalists was attacked while doing a live online report. The news outlet said her hands and right shoulder were hurt and she suffered swelling on the back of her head.
Video footage from Stand News appeared to show the reporter being assaulted while shooting a video of the white-clad mob attacking people. In the video, she was beaten several times before being pushed to the ground. A woman’s scream could be heard a few times and a male voice repeatedly shouted: “Stop! Do not beat the reporter!”
Now TV reported that its cameraman at the MTR station was attacked with canes by several men in white shirts. His video camera was snatched and thrown outside the station, according to the broadcaster, leaving it “completely shattered”.
The Hong Kong News Executives’ Association issued a statement on Monday that “strongly condemned” the mob attack in Yuen Long that left reporters injured. The association also urged the police to follow up the attack in accordance with the law.
“Covering a news event is a journalist’s duty. Because of the work of journalists, the public is able to understand the truth,” the statement said. “To blatantly attack or threaten journalists who are reporting is a serious threat to freedom of press and speech.”
The FCC, in its statement, “expressed solidarity” with the injured journalists. It called on Hong Kong police and authorities to “urgently find and bring to justice those who carried out the unprecedented mob attack”.
