Showdown between Hong Kong security chief, journalist group heats up with call for disclosure of financial records, membership lists
- Chris Tang, who previously accused the group of ‘infiltrating’ schools, says he is duty bound to ‘cast doubt’ on it amid alleged public concerns
- But Hong Kong Journalists Association fires back, calling proposed divulging of member rolls a violation of city’s privacy laws
Hong Kong’s security chief has stepped up his war of words with the city’s biggest journalists group, challenging it to disclose its financial records and membership list to alleviate “public concerns” about its ethics.
But the idea was swiftly shot down by the Hong Kong Journalists Association (HKJA) on Wednesday, who called Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung’s suggestion “illogical”, saying divulging its member rolls would violate the city’s privacy laws.
“My understanding is that journalists need to be trained and accredited professionally, and have certain professional beliefs, values and ethics … If a student can be a student journalist, then how professional are the journalists under the association?” he asked reporters outside the Legislative Council.
Tang also addressed HKJA chairman Ronson Chan Ron-sing’s Monday assertion that only 13 per cent of the group’s membership were students.