Legislation could be introduced to regulate the press and punish media outlets that advocate independence, Secretary for Security John Lee Ka-chiu said.

Lee, who sits on the Committee for Safeguarding National Security, told state-run Ta Kung Pao yesterday he would not rule out the option of using legislation to regulate the press.

“Most media outlets [in Hong Kong] are indeed doing journalism work. [But], of course, some have publicly advocated independence. We will collect evidence and crack down on them,” he said.

Conflicts between the police and media have been common during the social unrest, with the force accusing “bogus journalists” of interrupting their work and suggesting a mechanism for identifying media personnel.

On Wednesday, four online media outlets were denied access to a press conference at police headquarters over the arrests of four Studentlocalism members for allegedly breaching the law.

On July 20, the police filed complaints with the Hong Kong Journalists Association regarding some online media outlets, which it said had sent underaged reporters to protests and to carry out unfair reporting.

The Hong Kong Journalists Association said Lee’s suggestion said Lee’s suggestion has a “chilling effect” and further encroaches on press freedom.

“It may give people the impression the government is aiming to rectify or even control the media, making it unable to exercise its duty as the fourth estate,” it said.

Lee also said the government might consider legislation to intercept illegal funding chains that endanger security.

Asked about how “independence advocates” acquired money via crowdfunding, he said legal loopholes could enable them to do so –with authorities to investigate whether any funds came from foreign sources.

Lee also vowed to eliminate “bad apples” and “professional misconduct” among teachers “There have been over 100 complaints, so we need to start by improving the management of schools and its staff,” Lee said, referring to the 147 unrest-related complaints of teacher misconduct between June and December.

Separately, Commissioner of Customs and Excise Hermes Tang Yi-hoi said foreign countries’ restrictions on arms and sensitive technology exports to Hong Kong would prove fruitless.

“Hong Kong’s disciplinary forces would never import equipment from a single place. Very often we call for bids from all over the world,” Tang told mainland media Shenzhen Satellite TV. “So if any country intends to cut our supplies, I will not let that happen.”

He added that his department was already using many mainland products, which “won’t fare worse than those from Europe and the United States.”

Lee sends 'chilling message' to media