The Hong Kong Journalists Association has issued a statement condemning the alleged harassment of a TVB news crew by protesters during a demonstration in Mong Kok on Monday.
The organisation called the act a “violation of the freedom of the press”.
The incident reportedly occurred when protesters opposing the government’s election proposal got in a stand off with officers outside Mong Kok Police Station.
The protesters are believed to have been there in support of two people who were arrested earlier.
In response to the gathering, the police closed the station’s gates and stood guard with shields and batons at the entrance.
In front of the station, sections of Prince Edward Road West were barricaded by protesters with rubbish bins and recycling bins.
At one point, a crowd reportedly surrounded a TVB news crew inside a van.
According to now.com, the van was slammed multiple times and a TVB cameraman was verbally abused.
The van drove off after an argument between the protesters and the crew.
Police later cleared the area and reopened the road.
On the same day, the Hong Kong Journalism Association issued a statement condemning the behaviour of the protesters towards the reporters as a “grave violation to the freedom of the press”, and requested citizens to respect journalists’ right to cover the news.
“[We urge] citizens to express their discontent towards any news coverage to the respective media outlets rationally, rather than venting it at frontline reporters”, the statement said.
Photo: Screenshot via TVB.com
