Attack on cameraman by Hong Kong protesters condemned by city’s media groups
- TVB employee was covering incident in Mong Kok when he was set upon by protesters
- Media outlet HK01 also targeted with company vehicle smashed in Tseung Kwan O
Press groups have condemned attacks on a cameraman and company vehicle from two Hong Kong media outlets on Friday, after vigils mourning the death of a university student turned ugly.
As people came to terms with the loss of student Chow Tsz-lok, who suffered a severe brain injury in a car park fall earlier this week, protesters unleashed late-night violence in several districts.
A TVB cameraman was attacked at 10pm as he was covering protests in Mong Kok. He said a few protesters approached him and asked whether he was from the network, and attacked after he said he was.
“They snatched my camera and tripod, threw them to the ground and smashed them with iron bars,” he said in a TVB news report. “Some say they only hit machines not men, but a few had come over to me and hurt my neck and legs.”
He was sent to a hospital for treatment and filed a report with police.
Another local online media outlet, HK01, was also targeted at around 1am on Saturday.