Journalists' Group Slams Reporter's Vulgar Language

The Hong Kong Journalists Association (HKJA) has expressed regret over the vulgar and foul language that a reporter for a web-based outlet used to describe female police officers at the weekend.

A male journalist from Civilian Reporters had repeatedly made derogatory remarks about the physical appearance of female officers who were deployed to a protest in Mong Kok on Sunday.

The HKJA said reporters should be impartial and objective, and the offensive comments about the officers had nothing to do with what was going on at the scene.

The association said it had received complaints about the language used and it found the style of reporting to be inappropriate.

The HKJA noted that the media outlet had apologised for the insulting remarks and had claimed that the reporter had been shouting back in response to police abuse of journalists.

The association's statement came as lawmaker Elizabeth Quat from the pro-Beijing DAB party filed a complaint over the incident to the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC).

She said the women of Hong Kong had been insulted by the reporter's remarks and would not accept the apology made.

The EOC’s acting chief of operations, Ferrick Chu, said the watchdog would look into the matter if the victims came forward to file a complaint.