National Security Office in HK summons foreign media over false reports on Tai Po fire and election

The Office for Safeguarding National Security of the Central People’s Government in Hong Kong announced Saturday that it has summoned heads and journalists from several foreign news organizations operating in the city over what it called distorted and false coverage of the recent Wang Fuk Court fire and the Legislative Council election.

The office stated that, in the wake of the fatal fire, authorities and society in both Hong Kong and mainland China had worked together in rescue and relief efforts while the international community expressed sympathy.

It accused certain overseas media of disregarding facts, spreading misinformation, discrediting the government’s disaster response, interfering with the ongoing election, and sowing division at a time when the city residents were uniting to overcome hardship.

The statement stressed that press freedom must coexist with legal compliance and that no media outlet may use freedom of the press as a pretext to interfere in China’s internal affairs or Hong Kong matters.

It reminded all foreign media personnel in Hong Kong of their obligation to abide by the Basic Law, the Hong Kong National Security Law, the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, and local regulations on news reporting, while upholding professional ethics and factual accuracy.

The office said it expects foreign journalists to report objectively, strictly follow the law, and refrain from crossing legal red lines, adding that it will continue to monitor relevant coverage closely.

At the same time, it reaffirmed support for the lawful reporting activities of foreign media in Hong Kong and pledged to provide necessary assistance.