HKJA 'disappointed' Over Judge's 'riot' Comments

The Hong Kong Journalists Association (HKJA) has expressed ‘extreme disappointment’ over a District Court judge’s remarks on Monday that reporters at the scene of a 2019 protest may have part of a ‘riot’, saying such comments could be used to justify unwarranted criticism of journalists.

Judge Ernest Lin had made the remark while presiding over an unlawful assembly case involving four people accused of clashing with a group of Beijing supporters in a Kowloon Bay shopping mall in September 2019.

He said that people wearing yellow high-visibility jackets – who were reporters – allegedly blocked some of the victims from leaving the scene, and that they may have been part of what he called a riot.

But the HKJA hit back, saying front line journalists only wanted to present the truth to the public when they take the risk to report on protests.

The group also stressed that even though the high-vis jackets worn by reporters were yellow, that has no bearing on their political views.

The colour yellow is associated with the territory's pro-democracy movement.

The HKJA urged all parties to respect the freedom of the press, and halt unfounded allegations against journalists.

During Monday’s hearing, Lin had also ordered a lawyer and two members of the public to change the yellow masks they were wearing, telling them they would have to leave the courtroom otherwise.

Asked about this order during his first press conference as Hong Kong’s new Chief Justice, Andrew Cheung said while he would not comment on individual cases, Hong Kong is a free society, and people are free to wear whatever colour or pattern of mask they want.

At the same time, he said judges have discretion over how they run court proceedings.

The four defendants at the hearing pleaded guilty to unlawful assembly, with one also admitting to a charge of wounding.

A woman, who fell on an escalator during the chaos at Amoy Plaza, was said to have been attacked by one of the defendants and other people. She suffered injuries to her head and neck and lost three teeth.