(HKJA/IFEX) – The Hong Kong Journalists Association expresses deep regret at the treatment meted out by a British police officer to a Hong Kong TV crew covering the visit of Chinese President Jiang Zemin in London, England. The incident occurred at 9:30 GMT on 20 October 1999. Ngo Yuk-mei and a Hong Kong Cable Television […]
(HKJA/IFEX) – The Hong Kong Journalists Association expresses deep regret at
the treatment meted out by a British police officer to a Hong Kong TV crew
covering the visit of Chinese President Jiang Zemin in London, England.
The incident occurred at 9:30 GMT on 20 October 1999. Ngo Yuk-mei and a Hong
Kong Cable Television cameraman were covering a protest by demonstrators
calling for Tibetan independence, when a police officer blocked them and
pushed them. Officers also cleared away the protesters just as Jiang’s boat
passed by below.
The HKJA regards the actions of the British law enforcement officers as a
gross interference with lawful journalistic activities. The association will
write to the British Foreign Office to register its discontent.
HKJA also considers that preventing a peaceful protest in a situation which
poses no threat to national security, constitutes a violation of the
guarantees of freedom of expression outlined in the International Covenant
on Civil and Political Rights. These actions are damaging to the image of
Britain as a democratic country.
