Police to diminish online media’s influence: Claudia Mo

Online media is the “fifth power” of Hong Kong, where on many occasions they recorded and  released exclusive news contents online. Therefore by tightening the definition of media representative, the police can weaken their power, said lawmaker Claudia Mo Man-ching.

Following the police’s plan to tighten definition of media representatives under its protocol, the police is under fire for trying to clamp down on press freedom.

Shortly after the police's announcement, pro-democracy lawmakers, different press associations and universities all slammed their move, claiming such a move in other words, is to set up a government licensing system for journalists.

Mo urged authorities to reverse the change, and reminded that police are supposed to be monitored by the general public through the media, not to restrict journalists' work on monitoring them.

Lawmaker Ted Hui Chi-fung also questioned the police’s move, claiming they are trying to eliminate the media that is not in favor of the Hong Kong government, especially those who always criticize them.

He stressed that he witnessed loads of journalists from online media and student journalists being mistreated by police officers.