Protesters gathered outside Prince Edward MTR station last night (February 29), where they believe police killed demonstrators during a clearance operation on August 31, resulting in a police-civilian conflict. During the dispersal of the protesters, the police once again treated the media roughly. They used swear words and drove out the reporters, and they also applied pepper sprays to reporters and their cameras. HKJA strongly condemns the police for repeatedly breaching their commitment to respect press freedom and the right to report. The association will send a letter to the police force, urging management to strictly restrain frontline police officers.
According to comprehensive media reports, riot police officers fired tear gas grenades several times outside the Pioneer Centre to disperse the crowd and then advanced rapidly in the direction of Yau Ma Tei. They had asked the public and journalists to retreat to Nathan Road. During the period, police officers were emotional, expelled reporters with swear words, and shot pepper spray directly at reporters and their equipment. By 11:00 pm, the police required some people to be searched on Nathan Road near Shan Dong Street, with an estimated number of more than 100 people, including journalists.
HKJA strongly condemns the police for indiscriminately attacking journalists and the public again, and demand that frontline police officers maintain professionalism. Police officers should also clearly distinguish between reporters and protesters, stop hurting journalists and hindering their reporting.
Hong Kong Journalists Association
1 March 2020