The Foreign Correspondents' Club Hong Kong

FCC Statement Condemning the Arrest of Freelance Photojournalist

The Foreign Correspondents’ Club Hong Kong condemns the arrest of freelance photojournalist May James, who was asked to remove her face mask by police while covering a protest in Mongkok on Sunday evening, October 27. At the time, she had identified herself as a journalist, wearing a high-visibility yellow vest, a helmet and backpack marked with the word “press” and produced a press identification card when questioned, according to footage of the arrest.

James was searched, arrested and then detained overnight at a police station in Kowloon. She was released early today. As a freelance photographer, James has photographed the protests for Hong Kong Free Press, AFP and others news organizations. She has shared her experiences documenting the Hong Kong protests in The Correspondent, the FCC’s magazine, as well as on a recent FCC panel with other photographers and video journalists, where she discussed the risks and responsibilities of her job.

Several other reporters were also required by police to remove their face masks in the course of their reporting duties Sunday night, despite government assurances that journalists would be exempt from the face-mask ban while carrying out their professional duties. These masks are used by reporters to protect against tear gas and pepper spray, and by law, anyone who requires the masks for professional use should be exempt from the regulation. Police appeared to use force when removing the masks and interfered with the work of reporters covering the street protests.

On Sunday night, a representative from the FCC was able to reach out to two spokesmen from the Hong Kong Police Force, including the acting superintendent for the Police Public Relations Branch, to ascertain James’s whereabouts. The contacts were a result of the FCC’s recent meeting with police representatives. Opening this channel of communication was a practical outcome from our meeting with the police and helps in the defence of journalists and FCC members.

The FCC again calls for an independent investigation into police violence against journalists and interference with the media’s right to cover the protests under Hong Kong law. The FCC urges that an investigation should be transparent.

We have expressed our concern about such incidents since the start of the protests in June, yet violence against journalists and interference continue. These incidents, including the arrest of the photojournalist last evening, undermine Hong Kong’s reputation as a place where the media can work freely, without harassment or intimidation.

October 28, 2019

Statement on FCC Board Members Meeting With Police Representatives

A delegation from the Board of Governors of the Foreign Correspondents’ Club led by President Jodi Schneider met on Oct. 10 with representatives of the Hong Kong Police Force.

The meeting stemmed from a letter the FCC first sent to Police Commissioner Stephen Lo Wai Chung on August 11. It highlighted a series of grave concerns about the increasing number of incidents of police violence against journalists covering the Hong Kong protests and proposed measures that could rebuild confidence between the police and the media.

Since the FCC sent the letter on August 11 and re-sent it on Aug. 27 and Sept. 30, violence against journalists covering the unrest has escalated — as have attempts by police to interfere with press coverage, which is a right granted under Hong Kong law.

Examples the FCC representatives shared with the police included deliberate spraying of tear gas and pepper spray at journalists as well as attempts to stop the media from filming events, blocking cameras and flashing strobe lights at the press while they are reporting on events.

Most concerning has been the case of Indonesian journalist Veby Mega Indah, who has been left without sight in her eye after she was hit by a police rubber bullet. She was visibly identified as a member of the press and was standing apart from protesters at the time she was hit.

At the meeting we emphasised that journalists have taken steps to clearly identify themselves, including adopting yellow vests, carrying professional identification and marking other gear clearly.

Tensions have risen further since the face mask ban took effect on Oct. 5. The FCC’s position, which was made clear to the police representatives, is that journalists are authorized to wear masks when covering protests on the grounds of professional safety.

The exchange was open and frank. Police representatives acknowledged the FCC board members’ concerns about violence against journalists and attempts to interfere with media coverage, agreed to communicate them internally and asked that we continue to engage in dialogue with the police. The FCC welcomes this opportunity as part of its efforts to promote press freedom and the rights of journalists.

CPJ calls on Hong Kong chief executive to establish body to probe police violence against journalists

https://cpj.org/2019/10/cpj-calls-on-hong-kong-chief-executive-to-establis.php

IPI condemns growing violence against Hong Kong press

The International Press Institute (IPI), a global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists for press freedom, today (October 4) called on authorities in Hong Kong to put an end to growing harassment and targeted attacks on journalists covering ongoing protests.

Read the statement here.

HKJA Statement on Application for Judicial Review Against Hong Kong Police

https://www.hkja.org.hk/en/statements/hkja-files-application-for-judicial-review-against-the-commissioner-of-police/

HKJA statement on violence and threats of violence against journalists reporting events in Hong Kong

This statement was released by the Hong Kong Journalists Association on September 30, 2019.

The Hong Kong Journalists Association deplores the use and threat of violence towards journalists covering events in Hong Kong.

HKJA notes with grave concern, reports by Radio Television Hong Kong ( RTHK) of serious injury to a journalist covering protests in Hong Kong on Sunday 29 September 2019.

Reports have stated that the journalist, working for an Indonesian-language publication based in Hong Kong, was injured in the eye by a rubber bullet or beanbag round whilst covering demonstrations in Wanchai.

Media video footage of her receiving medical attention shows her wearing a high visibility jacket with press markings as well as press card on display. HKJA also understands that the journalist was also wearing a helmet with press markings.

We are gravely concerned by these reports of serious injury to a journalist whilst covering events in HK. We are particularly concerned by reports that the injury was caused by a rubber bullet or bean bag round and that the journalist was not in the immediate vicinity of protestors at the time of the incident, she was clearly identifiable as being a member of the press and was with a number of other journalists at the time also wearing high visibility press markings.

Police have a duty to assist the press and facilitate reporting by members of the press. It is self-evident that this means that police should not cause injury to members of the press.

The HKJA will be investigating this incident and if substantiated, will be taking action to protect the rights and safety of our members

The HKJA also expresses grave concern about recent online threats, purportedly by radical protestors, to TVB journalists if they cover events in Hong Kong from today onwards.

We deplore the use and threat of violence towards journalists covering events in Hong Kong from any source and calls on police and protestors to allow journalists to carry out their job of reporting the facts without risk of serious injury or threats of violence.

Hong Kong Journalists Association
30 September 2019

FCC Statement Condemning Further Violence Against Journalists Covering the Hong Kong Protests

The Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Hong Kong expresses its deep concern over multiple reports of police violence on Sept. 28 and Sept. 29 against journalists covering the Hong Kong protests.

They include a report of a serious injury to an Indonesian journalist working for a Hong Kong-based publication who was shot in the face by a police officer using a non-lethal round. Footage from the incident shows she was clearly identified as a journalist and that the police officer fired a parting shot from only a few meters away.

Eyewitness reports from journalists, and video and photos shared on social media, have documented incidents over the weekend that included:

* Journalists being hit by tear gas canisters and rubber bullets;

* Police targeting visibly identified journalists with pepper spray;

* The press being hit by spray from a water cannon containing dye and an agent that causes skin irritation;

* Journalists being verbally threatened by police;

* Police officers deliberately shining bright lights at journalists to impede their access and coverage;

*Police blocking journalists’ cameras and video cameras especially while making arrests of protesters.

The FCC is investigating these reports and calls for police restraint, especially with planned demonstrations in Hong Kong on the October 1 anniversary of the People’s Republic of China. The FCC calls for journalists to be able to cover the protests without interference or threat of attack, which is a right provided under Hong Kong law. The FCC also emphasizes that the media has a right to film and photograph police activity in public places, as long as the press is not impeding them.

The FCC continues to call for an independent inquiry into violence against journalists and interference with the media’s ability to cover the protests. The FCC urges that any such investigation should be transparent.

We have expressed our concern over these types of incidents since the start of the protests in June, yet the violence and interference has only escalated. The multiple incidents on Sept. 28 and Sept. 29 marked a dramatic deterioration in the ability of the media to cover the protests and seriously undermine Hong Kong’s long reputation as a place where journalists can work freely and without harassment.

September 30,2019

HKJA statement condemning doxxing of journalists

The Hong Kong Journalists Association has condemned the publishing online of journalists’ personal details, known as doxxing. In a statement, it called on the government and police to condemn and “thoroughly investigate” attacks on journalists, including these recent instances of publishing personal data.

The FCC joins the HKJA in expressing its grave concern over the adoption of this tactic to intimidate journalists in Hong Kong, who are already facing physical violence from police, attacks by thugs at protests, verbal abuse and online trolling.

https://www.hkja.org.hk/en/statements/hkja-condemns-doxxing-of-journalists-as-an-example-of-increasing-attack-on-press-freedom-in-hong-kong/

Silent protest at FCC highlights concerns over police violence against journalists covering Hong Kong protests

Members of the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Hong Kong held a silent protest on September 18 to highlight the club’s concern over the increasing limits to media access and violence against journalists covering the ongoing protests in the city.

Jodi Schneider, FCC president, leads the silent protest at the club.

Carrying banners reading “Yes to press freedom, no to violence against journalists”, a dozen members gathered outside the club in Central.

“The FCC is gravely concerned about the growing number of incidents of police violence against journalists who are doing their job covering the protests in Hong Kong,” said Jodi Schneider, FCC president. “We are holding a silent protest against this violence and any attempts to interfere with media coverage.”

“We are also calling for press freedom — for support of our right as journalists to cover the protests; a right provided us under Hong Kong law,” she said.

The FCC continues to call for an independent investigation into all forms of violence and intimidation directed at journalists since the start of the protests in June. The organisation also calls on the Commissioner of Police to publicly address these reports of violence.

“We want access to cover the protests and answers from the authorities,” Schneider said.

Silent Protest to be Held at FCC

Members will hold a silent protest outside the FCC on Wednesday, Sept. 18, at 6:00 p.m. to show our concern about increasing limits to media access and violence against journalists covering the Hong Kong protests. We’ll gather under the banner “Yes to press freedom, no to violence against journalists.”