HKJA received a report that a TVB News cameraman was forced to hand over the memory card when covering protests at the Chinese University today (November 14). Hong Kong Journalists Association and Hong Kong Press Photographers Association condemn this kind of behaviour, pointing out that photographers’ memory cards are news material, which may also involve sources. The release of news materials is not conducive for the media to cover public meetings and contact the sources in the future.

Furthermore, the above behaviour is a severe intervention in the freedom of the press and newsgathering. Both of the associations demand the related individuals to immediately return the memory cards and stop such practices in the future, so that frontline journalists can effectively perform their duties of defending press freedom.

Hong Kong Journalists Association

Hong Kong Press Photographers Association

14 November 2019