Hong Kong journalists’ group condemns FCC statement
Bastillepost · 1 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago2 MIN
Summary
The Hong Kong Federation of Journalists said it strongly condemned a recent statement by the Foreign Correspondents’ Club in Hong Kong over claims involving the Hong Kong Journalists Association and its members. It accused the FCC of making unfounded allegations, politicising the issue and interfering in Hong Kong affairs
Key Points
- The federation said it had noted a recent FCC statement alleging that the Hong Kong Journalists Association and its members had faced so-called online and personal harassment
- It said the FCC statement lacked a factual basis, maliciously hyped the issue and unfairly criticised Hong Kong’s public opinion environment
- The federation accused the Hong Kong Journalists Association of operating as a political organisation, alleging collusion with forces it described as seeking to destabilise Hong Kong
- It cited the 2019 anti-extradition bill unrest, annual reports critical of national security laws and what it called opaque election practices within the association
- The statement said Hong Kong remains a society governed by law, and that enforcement action would be justified if the association engaged in political or illegal acts unrelated to union functions
Why It Matters
The statement adds to an ongoing dispute over press freedom, political activity and the boundaries of lawful conduct for media groups in Hong Kong. It also indicates that arguments over the role of local and overseas press bodies are likely to remain politically charged under the city’s national security framework