Hong Kong Journalists Association

An open letter by 44 organisations calls Iraq’s proposed Information Technology Crimes law a threat to the fundamental freedoms necessary for the evolution of free speech and a vibrant press. The law will come to vote in the Iraqi Council of Representatives in April.

Fifty IFEX members and other rights groups call on the Bahrain authorities to release from prison human rights defender Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja, whose life is at risk since beginning a hunger strike on 8 February.

While the HKJA holds that innocent people should be protected from harassment in the form of stalking, it is worried about the implications for legitimate journalistic activities and the way any new law could be abused to block genuine investigative activities by journalists.

Reports from the HKJA that the delayed release of information by the Fire Services Department may have endangered people’s safety are a cause for genuine concern, says IFJ.

IFJ joins its affiliate, the Hong Kong Journalists Association (HKJA), and other media organisations in calling on the government to uphold the spirit of the Hong Kong Code on Access to Information.

The three reporters, from “Ming Pao”, “Sing Tao” and “Capital Weekly”, were accosted by police even though they had registered at the reception office and had been given access passes.

At least 19 reporters were pepper-sprayed, and one was arrested, during a demonstration against the government that has been characterised as the second largest protest since 2003.

HKJA is not expecting real change from the current administration, under Donald Tsang, and is now looking to the next chief executive for a more positive approach towards free expression and press freedom.