'Out Of Control' Police Fear Media Coverage: Union

Fresh police attacks on journalists this week suggest officers are deliberately targeting the press out of fear that protest events are being recorded, RTHK's Programme Staff Union warned on Friday.

The union issued a statement condemning "police brutality" after two journalists from the public broadcaster were injured while covering protests on Thursday night, with both of them requiring hospital treatment.

A video reporter was shoved and hit in the face twice with pepper spray in Lan Kwai Fong after asking an officer for his ID number. A cameraman, meanwhile, suffered cuts and swelling after being hit in the waist by either a tear gas canister or a rubber bullet in Mong Kok.

The injuries are the latest in a long series of incidents involving media workers in Hong Kong suffering at the hands of the police since the anti-government protests began in June.

"The staff union has reasons to suspect that the police are purposely targeting journalists due to fear of having actual events recorded. This severely violates the freedom of press. We strongly condemn this type of police behaviour and lack of control," the union said.

"Certain frontline members of the police force are emotionally out of control. They present a serious threat to the press and to public safety. They are clearly unfit to perform their duty."

The union added that it is now exploring legal options to try to tackle police abuse against its members, while also seeking views on what further action should be taken to protect the station's reporters, along with the public's right to information.