Hong Kong Journalists Association files complaint to independent watchdog, accusing police of using ‘violence and intimidation’ against media at extradition bill protests
- Reporters were victims of tear-gassing, baton attacks and attempts by officers to stop them from covering the protests, association claims
- Association asks Carrie Lam whether force’s approach was sanctioned by senior government officials
The Hong Kong Journalists Association has filed a complaint to a police watchdog over 27 cases of alleged violence or harassment against reporters and other media personnel covering last week’s extradition bill protests.
Journalists fell victim to police deployment of tear gas, baton beatings and other forms of violence, as well as unjustified searches and obstruction, according to allegations lodged with the Independent Police Complaints Council on Monday.
The group has also written a letter to Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, urging the government to set up an independent investigation committee to look at whether police were under official orders to respond in the way they did.
“The association has sufficient reason to believe that [the police officers involved] used unnecessary violence and intimidation against some people who were evidently journalists, that far exceeded the legal enforcement rights the police can use to keep public order,” the HKJA said.
In the complaint, the association listed 10 cases of police firing lachrymators, commonly known as tear gas, at reporters from short range, including three cases where reporters were hit directly in the head with the substance.
