Burst
Written by: Ling Yide
2020-08-12 04:24
Last update date: 2020-08-12 04:24Last night (11th) netizens launched "No Fear of Suppression—Sing Activities for Shopping Malls in All Districts of Hong Kong". In New Town Plaza in Sha Tin and Langham Place in Mong Kok, citizens gathered and shouted slogans. The police once held up the purple flag in Mong Kok and used pepper spray to disperse it.
A PolyU editorial board reporter was allegedly injured by a police officer who was forced to fall to the ground and went to the hospital for a medical examination afterwards. In the early hours of today (12th), he was accompanied by district councilors and others to explain the incident. Yau Tsim Mong District Councillor Li Ao-ran criticized that the police used force to treat journalists and used power to divide the media. They would seek justice and protect press freedom.
At 10 o'clock last night, the police were dispersing in Mong Kok. A male journalist, a PolyU editorial board member, was placed on the ground by the police at Exit E of Mong Kok Station on Nathan Road. After being intercepted and checked, he was allowed to pass. However, his knee and elbow were injured. At 3 a.m. today, he was accompanied by Yau Tsim Mong District Councillor Li Ao-ran, PolyU Student Council Chairman Chen Jiaxi, and PolyU Editor-in-Chief Chen Weinuo to meet with the media outside Kwong Wah Hospital.
The journalist of the Injured PolyU editorial board stated that he was on the side of the pedestrian road when the incident occurred and a police assault vehicle drove about 10 to 20 meters behind him. After about 10 police officers got off the vehicle, they pushed him onto the pedestrian road. He left in the direction of Yau Ma Tei, but the police officer did not let him leave and pushed him down. "Catch me on the ground. I felt like being squeezed by the police officer on my shoulder and neck." He felt pain, knees and hands. The elbow was also injured. He also showed the "restriction order" ticket issued by the police to him.
Li Aoran said that the incident was very outrageous and said that while media workers defended the truth on the frontline, the police used their power to divide the media, and even refused some media to report the truth and suppress freedom of the press. The police treated journalists with force and issued a "restricted gathering order" vote. There was no introspection and review, and the reporter was severely injured. As a district councillor, he will provide full assistance to restore justice and protect press freedom .
Chen Jiaxi pointed out that the student council is responsible for protecting the safety of students and will reserve the right to pursue investigations for unreasonable injuries by police officers. Chen Weinuo also criticized the police for using excessive force and the situation is very unsatisfactory. Recently, reporters have been repeatedly intercepted for investigation. Certified by the police, but will remain professional in the face of repression. The 3 people also said that the arrest of 10 people including Li Zhiying severely trampled on the freedom of self-knowledge and would guard their posts and face suppression.
Sing with You | Police Mong Kok raises purple flags and sprays peppers to disperse allegations that online media reporters issue tickets in violation of restrictions
Freedom of the press, police-civil relations