Journalists 'harassed By Police, Protesters'

The Hong Kong Journalists Association says both police and protesters have harassed frontline reporters covering the recent wave of anti-extradition demonstrations.

The association, which launched its annual report, said it had written to Chief Executive Carrie Lam to demand an independent inquiry into the protests and the events surrounding them, and had filed at least 27 complaints to the Independent Police Complaints Council.

The complaints include 10 cases of police firing tear gas at reporters from close range, three of reporters being injured or having equipment damaged by police batons and one of a journalist being hit by what's thought to be a rubber bullet or a bean-bag round.

The report, entitled "Red line stifles freedom" says the Beijing government is becoming increasingly assertive in setting boundaries for the reporting of Hong Kong affairs, especially in cases concerning the "one country, two systems" principle.

It points to the case of Financial Times Asia editor Victor Mallet, who was denied a visa after hosting a talk in his capacity as a Foreign Correspondents Club governor by an independence advocate.

Association chairman Chris Yeung said: "Fundamentally, we urge the government to make an even stronger commitment to upholding freedom of expression and the press.

"On the legislative front, do speed up legislation on archives and freedom of the press."