'Mainland Could Become Off Limits To HK Media'

Hong Kong journalists may have to stop covering news on the mainland in light of violent attacks against them, a lawmaker warned on Wednesday.

The comment by the Civic Party's Kwok Ka-ki came after a Now TV cameraman was manhandled by several police officers in the capital before he was handcuffed and bundled into a van, with blood trickling down his face. The cameraman was later released and went to hospital for treatment.

"This is the second time within four days that a reporter coming from Hong Kong has been assaulted by the authorities on the mainland and this is a very serious incident," Kwok said.

On Saturday, a Cable TV reporter was beaten up by two men in Sichuan province while he was reporting on the 10th anniversary of the massive earthquake there.

Kwok also criticised the SAR government's "weak" response to the latest incident after officials expressed concern about what had happened.

"The reply by Matthew Cheung, the Chief Secretary, is entirely unsatisfactory and gives no idea of the concern of the people of Hong Kong towards the two violent incidents that happened on the mainland."

Kwok said the SAR government should go further and condemn the mainland officials for their attacks on Hong Kong journalists.

Meanwhile, Democratic Party chairman Wu Chi-wai said the SAR's journalists have a legal right to report on events on the mainland and there should be no interference in their work.

"The government should approach the Beijing government to ensure that the freedom of the press can be assured in the mainland. All the reporters coming from Hong Kong who work in the mainland have already got their approval so it is the right of the reporter to report the issues happening in the mainland," Wu said.