The police reform media defines the press to urge the withdrawal of the association: is consulting legal opinions to submit judicial review

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Written by: Kong Fanxu

2020-09-24 16:25

Last update date: 2020-09-24 16:31

The police revised the definition of "media representative" under the "General Police Regulations", deleted and no longer recognized the press card issued by the Journalist Association and the Photojournalist Association, and replaced it with recognition of the registered organization of the Information Service Press Release System (GNMIS); or "international recognition" And well-known" non-local organizations.

The Hong Kong Journalists Association, the Photojournalist Association and representatives of various media organizations held a press conference today (24) to oppose the new police measures.

Yang Jianxing, chairman of the Association of Journalists, made three requests to urge the police to immediately withdraw the arrangement. Legal advice is now being consulted, and judicial review cannot be ruled out; during the collaboration, the police requested the police to stop designing "interview zones" and blockade zones and other restricted media interview arrangements; He also hopes that the police will honour their public commitments and respect the freedom of the press and the media's right to interview.

Hong Kong Journalists Association, Hong Kong Photojournalist Association, Independent Commentators Association, College Journalism Educators Association, Ming Pao Workers Association, One Media Union, Radio Television Hong Kong Program Producers Union and All News Union held today "Reporters Defending the Truth Cannot Be Screened by the Government" Press conference to solemnly protest the unilateral revision of the definition of "media representative" under the "General Police Regulations" by the police.

(Photo by Zheng Zifeng)

The Hong Kong Journalists Association, Hong Kong Photojournalist Association, Independent Commentators Association, College Journalism Educators Association, Ming Pao Staff Association, One Media Union, Radio Hong Kong Program Producers Union and Public Press Union held today "Journalists Defending the Truth Cannot Be Screened by the Government At the press conference, we solemnly protested that the police unilaterally revised the definition of "media representative" under the "General Police Regulations."

Groups attending the press conference believed that the new police amendments disguised the official definition of what a journalist is, and may even pave the way for the implementation of the official licensing system, seriously infringing on the freedom of interviews and the press.

Media representatives reiterated that Article 27 of the Basic Law clearly protects the freedom of the press of Hong Kong residents, and that the police are not allowed to screen officially recognized media through administrative means, which would undermine the rights of Hong Kong people themselves.

Journalist Association: The police revised to treat reporters as enemies

Yang Jianxing, chairman of the Journalist Association, criticized that the police's amendment was to "treat reporters as enemies," and was also dissatisfied with Chief Executive Carrie Lam's claim that the media should "set out chaos."

Yang said that the last time the four press organizations had a meeting with police representatives was in May. At that time, the definition of "media representatives" was never mentioned.

Yang Xu said that the Commissioner of Police clearly stated that he needed to make arrangements for the identification of reporters, but he did not discuss the details.

Regarding the recent reports that they support the revision, "it is four organizations."

Yang also pointed out that the two associations have no right to prevent any news organizations from issuing press cards, nor have they reason to object, and cannot blame them.

Yang continued that the police claimed that the new arrangement would not affect interviews in non-blocked areas, but that the police might take action for reporters from organizations listed by the non-government information service.

From past incidents, the police often abused the cordoned area, which actually hindered interviews.

Yang also pointed out that the police also amended the general regulations to include "do not affect the efficiency of the operation" as a prerequisite to comply with the provisions of the media, and questioned whether the police viewed the reporters on the scene as "influencing the efficiency of the operation," worrying about abuse.

Yang Jianxing put forward three requirements, urging the police to immediately cancel the relevant amendments, otherwise the Association will not rule out handling through legal channels; the police must stop the establishment of "interview zones" and blockades and other restricted media interview arrangements; at the same time, he hopes that the police will fulfill their public commitments and respect the news Freedom and media coverage rights.

Yang added that the Association is carrying out a number of follow-up actions, including consulting legal opinions, considering judicial review, and studying sending observers to the interview site to monitor, and at the same time requesting the police and the government to communicate.

Photojournalist Association: Freelance journalists are most affected

Chen Yizhao, chairman of the Hong Kong Photojournalist Association, pointed out that freelance journalists are the most affected in this incident. They work for different agencies every day. There is no fixed press card, only the same day work card issued by the agency. When the police searched the One Apple Building earlier, The establishment of the blockade has allowed many media to take photos of Li Zhiying being taken into a police car from a distance.

Xu Fangwen, vice chairman of the Ming Pao Workers’ Association, said that it is difficult to guarantee that the police will have revised versions of "2.0" and "3.0" in the future, worrying about affecting press freedom.

Next Media Labor Union spokesperson Lin Weicong said that when a reporter was interviewing on the Tiaojingling Zhizhu Bridge a few days ago, the police asked to get off the bridge first, and the interview could be conducted only after being certified by the PPRB. Otherwise, the ticket charge violated the gathering restriction order; After the membership card, a police officer claimed that he "don't recognize the card." After a round of harassment, a group of reporters were pushed into the "interview area" designated by the police, criticizing the practice for restricting the freedom of interviews.

Yang Jianxing, chairman of the Records Association, urged the police to immediately withdraw the arrangement, revealing that they are consulting legal opinions, and would not rule out a judicial review.

(Photo by Zheng Zifeng)

Zhao Shanen, chairman of the Radio Television Program Producers Union, said that on the day the police raided the One Apple Building, reporters from Hong Kong and Taiwan were denied entry to the interview area. Zhao asked, "Are both Hong Kong and Taiwan large? Are they well-known?" The journalism departments and colleges of colleges and universities have many years of history and questioned why the police did not recognize the qualifications of relevant student journalists.

Tan Huiyun, co-representative of college journalism educators, said that after the police revised the definition of media representative, "I and my student were DQ together."

She pointed out that there have always been points to be careful when interviewing student reporters. Student reporters also need interview training experience. "If you don’t give training, will you be dereliction of duty?" Lv Bingquan, senior lecturer in the Department of Journalism of HKBU and a senior media person, suggested. If you want to understand the difficulties of front-line work, you can consider going on a microservice tour to "try to scare yourself into being a reporter" and feel how front-line police officers treat reporters.

There was media attention at the scene, and the police instructed that there were "fake reporters" at the scene.

Yang Jianxing hopes that the police will hand over evidence, otherwise it will be irresponsible and mislead the public. Yang also pointed out that mainstream media have ethical guidelines and urged different media to set guidelines for frontline reporters. If complaints are received, the Association will handle them.

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Civil Rights Watch: Police revision is no different from screening media

In addition, Civil Rights Watch issued a statement today stating that the police revision seriously violated the freedom of the press and interview space guaranteed by the Basic Law and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. It is no different from screening the media and will cause unreasonable obstacles to frontline reporters. , And increase the personal safety and legal risks that journalists have to bear because they perform their duties to conduct interviews.

Civil Rights Watch pays particular attention to the new prerequisites in the "How to Cooperate with Media Work" under the general police regulations, and believes that there should be no conditions for the police to assist reporters in interviews.

Civil Rights Watch reiterated that the police should determine whether a person is a reporter or is conducting an interview based on a person's behavior.

If anyone, including reporters, commits wrongdoing in a news incident, the police now have sufficient powers to stop and arrest them.

Civil Rights Watch urged the Commissioner of Police to immediately withdraw the relevant amendments.

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