Hong Kong police chief vows to probe claims of journalist harassment ‘without bias’ as NGO urges ‘firm action’
Hong Kong Free Press
Hong Kong’s police chief has vowed to investigate reports of harassment and intimidation “without bias,” after a local press union claimed that reporters from at least 13 media outlets in the city had been targeted in a “systematic” online and offline attack.
As of last Friday, police had received two reports of alleged harassment and intimidation involving Hong Kong journalists and their family members, Commissioner of Police Raymond Siu told the press last Saturday after a passing-out parade at the Hong Kong Police College.
Hong Kong was a society of rule of law, the police chief said, adding that people should come forward and file a police report if they were being intimidated or harassed.
“Regardless of people’s background, the police would definitely conduct a thorough investigation without bias,” Siu said in Cantonese.
Reported harassment
Siu’s remarks came a day after the Hong Kong Journalists Association (HKJA) said that dozens of journalists had received emails and letters with defamatory content to their home addresses, workplaces and other venues since June.
The journalists affected included those from Hong Kong Free Press, InMedia, HK Feature, and those who are members of the HKJA’s executive committee, HKJA chairwoman Selina Cheng said at a press conference last Friday.
According to the press union, 15 journalists had seen anonymous emails and letters sent to family members, landlords, employers and organisations they were associated with. Some recipients were warned of potential national security laws violations if they continued to associate with the journalists.
Cheng said Facebook users also posted “hateful content” targeting media outlets and journalists in private Facebook groups. At least 36 journalists were named and had their photos shared in these posts.
It was unclear how the journalists’ personal information had been obtained, the HKJA chair said, adding that the press union was concerned about “apparent leaks from government or other private databases.” She referred to three instances of journalists being searched by customs officers when entering Hong Kong in recent months, saying that two of them had received threatening messages immediately after entering the territory.
Hong Kong Customs
Last Friday, Under Secretary for Security Michael Cheuk said anyone who was threatened, insulted or harassed should report their case to law enforcement. The government had not received any reports regarding a data leak, the official said, adding that he did not know why the HKJA claimed that private data might have been leaked from government database.
“Hong Kong is a society governed by the rule of law, and no one should be subject to intimidation, insult, or so-called harassment,” Cheuk said in Cantonese.
The Customs and Excise Department issued a statement hours after the HKJA said that some reporters had begun to receive anonymous messages after customs checks during arrival clearance.
The department said its staff would not collect passengers’ personal phone numbers during customs clearance. It added that risk assessment and intelligence analysis were applied in choosing passengers, cargo, postal packets and conveyances for checks and clearance.
“The department shall endeavour to ensure the collection, use, retention, transfer and access of personal data in operations, investigations and services be executed in accordance with the requirements of the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance, and that all officers must strictly follow the relevant regulations,” a customs statement read.
‘Urgently investigate’
The reported intimidation and harassment campaign was condemned by international press freedom watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF). In a statement released last Friday, the NGO appealed to the international community to “take firm action” in support of the city’s journalists.
“We strongly condemn this harassment campaign led against the independent media outlets that managed to survive the previous waves of government repression. We urge the international community to intensify its pressure on the Chinese regime so press freedom is fully restored in the territory,” said Cédric Alviani, RSF’s Asia-Pacific bureau director.
The Foreign Correspondents’ Club in Hong Kong (FCC) also said it was “extremely concerned” by the reported harassment faced by Hong Kong journalists. It called on the local authorities to “urgently investigate” the allegations to ensure the safety of journalists working in the city.
“These bullying messages are illegal, and should be condemned not only for the violence they seek to inflict, but also for their threats to the freedom of the press as it is guaranteed as a fundamental right in Hong Kong,” the FCC said in a statement released last Friday.
Press freedom in Hong Kong
Hong Kong has plummeted in international press freedom indices since the onset of the security law. Watchdogs cite the arrest of journalists, raids on newsrooms and the closure of around 10 media outlets including Apple Daily, Stand News and Citizen News. Over 1,000 journalists have lost their jobs, whilst many have emigrated. Meanwhile, the city’s government-funded broadcaster RTHK has adopted new editorial guidelines, purged its archives and axed news and satirical shows.
See also: Explainer: Hong Kong’s press freedom under the national security law
In 2022, Chief Executive John Lee said press freedom was “in the pocket” of Hongkongers but “nobody is above the law.” Although he has told the press to “tell a good Hong Kong story,” government departments have been reluctant to respond to story pitches.
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