Police say journalist rules 'fair and objective'

The head of the Police Public Relations Branch, Kenneth Kwok, has defended a change in the force’s accreditation policy regarding journalists, saying it is fair, objective, and more transparent, RTHK reports.

The police announced on Tuesday that it would only recognize media organizations which have been registered with the government’s Information Services Department, as well as those from “internationally known” foreign media.

Accreditation from press associations such as the Hong Kong Journalists Association and the Hong Kong Press Photographers Association, meanwhile, would no longer be accepted.

The decision sparked outrage in the media, which accused the force of trying to clamp down on press freedom.

But speaking on an RTHK radio program the head of the Police PR branch denied that accusation and called it a “misunderstanding,'' saying there are hundreds of media organizations on the force’s updated list.

“We’re talking about more than 200 media organizations registered with the Information Services Department and all reporters, photographers and crew working for them. This definition is more transparent and wide. It’s a misunderstanding to say the definition had been narrowed,'' Kwok said.

He added that the accreditation system is “fair and objective” as it is based on the registration system adopted by the Information Services Department.

He dismissed concerns that freelancers and student reporters would be barred from covering events in future, saying they could continue to do so in public places.

However, when the police host press conferences and set up cordon lines where they could not let everybody in, officers would adopt the new policy.

Kwok said the change is long overdue as it’s becoming increasingly difficult for officers to identify who are journalists during public events. He cited a protest at a shopping mall in Yuen Long, where there were less than 10 participants but more than 150 journalists.

Meanwhile, the chief editor of Polytechnic University’s student newspaper said he is expecting more obstruction from the police in future.

Chan Wai-nok told the same program that the new policy is unreasonable, adding that alternative media play an important role in society as they’re often able to capture news and footage missed by mainstream outlets.

He said reporters from the student newspaper will continue to work on the field but they have been asked to pay heed to personal safety.