Govt Rejects Call For Media Registration System

The government said on Wednesday that is has no plans to introduce a registration system for journalists and it is up to the police and the media to find a way to ease tensions at protest sites.

In Legco, DAB lawmaker Elizabeth Quat demanded a registration system be set up, saying there are people out on the streets pretending to be journalists when they are in fact protesters.

She cited recent incidents involving verbal abuse against a female police officer and a 12-year-old boy working for an online student outlet as evidence of the need for new controls on the media, including a body to monitor outlets.

Quat said there also need to be guidelines on what journalists are allowed to do at large-scale events, saying "we can see that at scenes of riots there are more journalists than police, and more reporters than rioters standing in the way."

But in response, Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Erick Tsang said the administration respects press freedom and it doesn't want there to be too much intervention, so that the media can perform their role as the fourth estate.

He said media outlets in Hong Kong are already regulated under existing legislation on newspapers and broadcasters.

“As major providers of news and information for the community, media organisations should act responsibly and observe the law in the dissemination of news, irrespective of whether this is through electronic or printed platforms," Tsang said.

He noted that the police had met representatives of four media groups last week to try to sort out various issues regarding protest coverage.

Meanwhile, Security Secretary John Lee told lawmakers that there is a need to consider practical problems for the police in handling large groups of people on the streets.

He questioned how police could handle situations where "50 to 60, or even 500 to 600 people" say they are reporters.

Lee said "professional journalists" are well-trained and they are bound by a code of ethics, and the government has made arrangements for them to be able to carry out their duties.

He also said he hopes police and the media can work out a solution to their differences that suits everyone.