• 02/23/2025

Prologue Journal

Understanding current events through the lenses of the past and future.

Hong Kong

New HKFP Anti-harassment Policy

Hong Kong Free Press

hkfp featured

Harassment against journalists and news outlets has become more common around the world, and has seen an uptick in Hong Kong, according to press freedom NGOs.

Independent media in the city have seen a surge of smear campaigns, trolling, surveillance, libel/defamation, message bombing, doxxing, cyberattacks, false/fake complaints to the authorities, unlawful use of branding or impersonation, as well as threats or pressure aimed at third parties connected to news outlets.

Our newsroom has adopted an anti-harassment policy and reporting mechanism referencing advice from the Hong Kong Journalists Association, the International Press Institute and Reporters Without Borders. We are committed to safeguarding the rights and safety of our staff and corporate partners from any unlawful or malicious behaviour – this responsibility is the first of HKFP’s Guiding Principles.

New Zero-Tolerance Commitment

As part of a new zero-tolerance policy, we are making a public commitment to enact a procedure in response to any and all cases of harassment against HKFP, without exceptions. The procedure involves police reports, legal action, publicity and forensic record keeping.

  1. All cases – no matter their significance – will be reported to the police. HKFP will decide whether to open a new police report, or add the incident to a case on harassment opened in November 2024.
  2. All cases involving HKFP, or our corporate partners, will be logged and retained indefinitely as evidence.
  3. All cases involving HKFP, or our corporate partners, will be logged and retained indefinitely as evidence.
  4. A summary of incidents from 2015 to the present day will appear in a public log on the HKFP website in spring, 2025, as part of our commitment to transparency. HKFP reserves the right to publish a news story or issue a public statement regarding any incidents.
  5. In cases of online harassment, all incidents will be reported directly to the relevant tech platforms, including via media backchannels where available.
  6. In cases of online harassment, all incidents will be reported directly to the relevant tech platforms, including via media backchannels where available.
  7. Evidence of all harassment will be passed onto local and international press freedom NGOs, as well as fellow news outlets in order to identify patterns and raise awareness.
  8. Cases may also be submitted to privately hired investigators for forensic analysis.
  9. All cases involving the misuse of personal information will be reported to the Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data, in addition to the police.
  10. HKFP maintains a legal defence fund and will take action through our lawyers against those believed to have breached the Crimes Ordinance (Cap. 200), Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance (Cap. 486), Defamation Ordinance (Cap. 21), Telecommunications Ordinance (Cap. 106), Copyright Ordinance (Cap. 528) or any other crimes or common law offences related to intimidation or harassment.

Our policies will be regularly reviewed and updated to reflect changes in the legal landscape and evolving threats, in consultation with press freedom NGOs.

Partners who wish to share any suspected case of harassment may contact HKFP securely – and in confidence – for follow-up and investigation.

https://hongkongfp.com/2025/02/13/new-hkfp-anti-harassment-policy/