The Hong Kong Journalists Association strongly protested against the mainland authorities’  interference in the work of the Hong Kong media  on the public demonstration against a plan to build a petrochemical plant in Maoming, Guangdong.

On 2 April and 3 April, several Apple Daily and Mingpao journalists were intercepted and interrogated by the local police. Their photos and information in mobile phone were removed.   After signing a statement of repentance, they were ordered to leave.

This is an outright infringement on press freedom, said the association, noting that the removal of interview information is an infringement of intellectual property.

It urged the Central Government to protect the right to report of HK journalists on the Mainland which is in line with the press and speech freedom enshrined in the Constitution.  Beijing should also abolish the system that requires HK journalists to apply for accreditation before heading to cover news stories on the Mainland.

Hong Kong Journalists Association

4 April 2014