Hong Kong Journalists Association

According to a recent HKJA survey, both the public and journalists believe that press freedom deteriorated in 2014. To counter this, there is a clear need for freedom of information legislation to ensure the right to access information held by the government and public bodies.

Next Media headquarters and the home of its former chairman Jimmy Lai were the targets of coordinated firebomb attacks. HKJA condemned this attempt to silence the media through intimidation.

The Philippine government banned nine Hong Kong journalists from entering the Philippines for “heckling” President Aquino in October 2013. In response to criticism from journalists’ groups, the government lifted the ban.

An “Apple Daily” photographer was arrested by the police, while other journalists faced harassment and restrictions while reporting on police operations in Hong Kong’s district of Mong Kok.

The IFJ joins its affiliate the HKJA in condemning the continued use of violence against journalists covering the Occupy Movement protests in Hong Kong. We are also deeply concerned over the minimal support from the Hong Kong Government and Police for journalists and media workers covering the protests.

Thugs and anti-Occupy Movement protesters brutally attacked several journalists in Mong Kok, Kowloon, Hong Kong on 3 and 4 October 2014.

The Hong Kong Journalists Association (HKJA) has condemned the police use of force against reporters who have been covering pro-democracy rallies and the use of tear gas against peaceful demonstrators.

More than 100 civil society organisations ask the UN Secretary General to recognise the importance of free expression rights in the sustainable development goals.