Hong Kong Police Crime Unit Takes Over Journalist Intimidation Cases

Ace Breaking News – Hong Kong police crime unit takes over journalist intimidation cases, press group says

Hong Kong Journalists Association Chairperson Selina Cheng said she had made a police statement about harassment targeting her family members and executive committee members of the union.

Hong Kong Journalists Association Chairperson Selina Cheng said she had made a police statement about harassment targeting her family members and executive committee members of the union.

A Hong Kong police crime unit has taken over an investigation into reported online and offline harassment and intimidation of journalistsfrom at least 13 media outlets, a press group has said.Selina Cheng, the chairperson of the Hong Kong Journalists Association, on September 13, 2024. Screenshots behind her show Facebook posts doxxing the identity of reporters. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP.

In a newsletter to members on Wednesday, Hong Kong Journalists Association (HKJA) Chairperson Selina Cheng said she had made a statement at a police station earlier in October, giving information about incidents targeting her family members and the HKJA executive committee members.

Police urged other affected individuals to come forward and report the incidents, Cheng said. 

HKFP has reached out to the police for confirmation and comment. 

Last month, the HKJA said 15 journalists were targeted in what it described as a “systematic and organised attack” since June, with emails and letters with defamatory content sent to their home addresses, workplaces and other venues.Reporters in Hong Kong. File photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP.

The journalists targeted included those from Hong Kong Free Press, InMedia, HK Feature, and those who are members of the HKJA’s executive committee.

Anonymous complaints were sent to family members, landlords, employers and organisations with which the journalists are associated, Cheng said. Some of the complaints threatened recipients that if they continued to associate with the journalists, they could be breaching national security laws.

HKFP’s Director Tom Grundy filed a police report last month after his landlord and local property agencies were sent anonymous letters containing defamatory claims, falsehoods and threats of “unimaginable consequences” and “collateral damage” unless he was evicted from the property and district. An initial invitation to make an official police statement was cancelled and the police have yet to follow up.

HKJA said earlier there was also “hateful content” targeting media outlets and journalists in private Facebook groups. At least 36 journalists were named and had their photos shared in these posts.Raymond Siu. File Photo: Hong Kong Police, screenshot via Facebook. 

Commissioner of Police Raymond Siu said in mid-September that the force had received two reports of harassment and intimidation involving Hong Kong journalists and their family members. He said Hong Kong was a society with the rule of law, and called on people to come forward and file a police report if they were being intimidated or harassed.

In 2022, Chief Executive John Lee said press freedom was “in the pocket” of Hongkongers but “nobody is above the law.” Although he has told the press to “tell a good Hong Kong story,” government departments have been reluctant to respond to story pitches.

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