My Take
Hong Kong journalists face police anger in Mong Kok
ALEX LOalex.lo@scmp.com
PUBLISHED : Monday, 01 December, 2014, 4:56am
UPDATED : Monday, 01 December, 2014, 4:56am
Police officers clash with pro-democracy protesters in Mong Kok. Photo: Edward Wong
It's open season suddenly on journalists covering the Occupy eviction in Mong Kok.
A technician carrying equipment for an iCabletelevision news cameraman was arrested last week for assaulting the police, as was an Apple Daily photographer, who was put in handcuffs even after he showed his press card to prove his identity. Generally, my media colleagues and friends have reported that police have turned rough with frontline journalists recently. It's a sea change in attitude from the first month of the crisis when frontline police and reporters managed to cooperate mostly, or at least have a tacit understanding.
This is certainly unfortunate. Notwithstanding critics from the pan-democratic camp and those from overseas with their own agendas and preconceptions, our police have so far performed the gruelling and unrewarding task of controlling the protesting crowds and ensuring their safety in an honourable and exemplary way. Throughout the crisis, many have had to work long shifts while enduring constant verbal abuse and provocation from protesters.
Under such conditions, it's not surprising that some officers may start losing patience.
It's probably no coincidence that last week's rough treatment of journalists also saw the arrest of seven suspended officers alleged to have beaten Civic Party activist Ken Tsang Kin-chiu during clashes with protesters in Admiralty last month.
The alleged beating was captured by a TVB news crew. Many officers have, unreasonably, blamed the media for the arrested officers' woes.
As much as I support our police and admire their general discipline, the arrested officers have no one but themselves to blame. In any case, if police think some media coverage of their operations have been unfair, as arguably it has been with one or two newspapers, they should take it up with their top editors and owners. A news photographer or a TV technician are low down the news hierarchy and have little or no input in how the news is presented to the public. Like frontline officers, they too have to work long hours under very difficult conditions.
The media is not your enemy. But if you make an enemy of it, it will become one.
http://m.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/1652659/hong-kong-journalists-face-police-anger-mong-kok
