IFJ Questions Arbitrary Detention of Hong Kong Journalists

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) joins the Hong Kong Journalists’ Association (HKJA) in questioning the manner in which police in Hong Kong detained three journalists who had been testing the security system of a government building.

On August 11, the three journalists of Hong Kong-based newspapers Ming Pao, Sing Tao and Capital Weekly were held for at least six hours and accused of attempted burglary.

According to the Ming Pao reporter, she and the other two journalists registered and received a visitor’s permit at the reception office of the Hong Kong Government’s new headquarters. They were stopped and questioned by police as they left the premises after they had located the third-floor office of Hong Kong’s Chief Executive Donald Tsang.

Although the trio explained how they had entered the building and the third floor, the police detained them because, they said, the journalists’ explanation for visiting the office was not convincing.

The three were released unconditionally after half a day.

IFJ calls on Hong Kong Police Commissioner Andy Tsang, who was appointed in January 2011, to offer an apology for the detention of the journalists.

The IFJ notes that the incident follows the arbitrary detention in Hong Kong on July 1 of two journalists who were unable to produce their press cards when requested by local police.

The IFJ represents more than 600,000 journalists in 131 countries

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ENDS

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