Hong Kong Journalists Association welcomes the government’s long overdue decision to lift its bar on digital only media from its press functions. We will monitor the implementation of its accreditation policy to ensure all media are fairly treated.  The result of the implementation will decide whether the Association will continue with the judicial review against the government’s online media policy.

We call on the government to make corresponding adjustments to its press venues and functions to accommodate the expected increase in journalists.

Over the past five years, HKJA has been pressing the government to grant digital-only media equal rights and access to government press functions. In June 2016, HKJA filed a complaint with the Ombudsman Office against the government’s policy to deny digital-only media access to its government press events.  The Ombudsman ruled in December that the complaint was substantiated. In March this year HKJA filed an application for judicial review against that government policy. The leave was granted and the judicial review hearing was schedule to be held in next year.

 Hong Kong Journalists Association
19 September 2017