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Ms Bao Choy, a freelance journalist in Hong Kong, was arrested at her home on Tuesday 3 November 2020 for allegedly making a false declaration to access vehicle ownership records. She was trying to trace those present at the scene of the Yeun Long attacks for a documentary programme for RTHK (Radio Television HK), the city’s public broadcaster.
Hong Kong’s Chief Executive, Carrie Lam, said that the arrest of RTHK producer Bao Choy, who also goes by the name Choy Yuk-ling, did not indicate “selective prosecution” by the authorities, and journalists in the city still enjoy press freedom. But others disagree.
Ms Bao Choy, a freelance journalist in Hong Kong, was arrested at her home on Tuesday 3 November 2020
Radio Television Hong Kong Director of Broadcasting, Leung Ka-wing, said that while the station would not halt investigate projects, staff were shocked by the arrest.
We are afraid, we are worried, whether we can continue the way we produce high quality news as before.
Choy could face a fine and six months in prison if convicted, according to the HK Financial Times – 4 November 2020.
Another journalist was arrested in Hong Kong just two days later as security crackdowns widened.
The Police identified this journalist only by surname, Ho, and she is from the online media outlet Ben Yu Entertainment. Ho was arrested for obstructing police after she refused to stop filming two women being arrested on Sai Yee Street. She was released on bail pending charges. Ho was again arrested in Tsuen Wan on Thursday morning after the Department of Justice decided to charge her with “obstructing the police in due execution of their duty”.
Claudia Mo, a pro-democracy elected legislator said the move was designed to scare the local press.
The message is: watch out, we’ll do just anything to get you if you’re found (to be) politically incorrect.
While shocking, it is not surprising to hear of partisan arrests, as China strips away democracy and the freedom of the press. New national security laws have tightened control over education, journalists, and social media.
Hong Kong reporter’s arrest is the latest blow to press freedom. RTHK producer’s arrest on dubious charge for mob report will have a chilling effect on investigative journalism.
Jeff Pao Asia Times 3 Nov 2020
Journalism as a profession around the world is under attack. It can be harmful to a person’s livelihood, as in the case of New Zealand author and Insight: Politics writer Olivia Pierson.
Pierson’s latest book “Western Values Defended: A Primer” was withdrawn from bookseller Mighty Ape’s online retailer stores after she had been smeared as a racist by a Twitter mob.
Pierson’s supporters say she has become a victim of extreme wokeness, and the move by Mighty Ape was an example of “Cancel Culture” in action.
theguardian.com/world/2020/nov/04/nz-website-withdraws-authors-works-after-she-criticises-maori-foreign-minister
Targeted acts such as removing a book from sale and mass e-mailing the person’s employer demanding that they are sacked are designed to scare people into silence and into censoring what they say.
On an even more deplorable note, Forbes staff member, Katherine Love, has listed the ten most urgent cases of injustice against journalists (Press Freedom Cases), compiled and published by the One Free Press Coalition of media outlets around the world, whose freedom is now a matter of life or death. Wikipedia has a list of imprisoned journalists’ names, under the following headings:
- Journalists held in extrajudicial detention in the war on terror
- Imprisoned for refusing to reveal sources
- Imprisoned in Turkey
- Died while in prison
From a torrent of online abuse to an arrest with spurious charges to the high-profile death of a person such as Jamal Khashoggi, the former editor in chief of a Saudi newspaper, danger is ever-present for journalists.
The principle that supports the freedom of an individual to articulate their opinions and ideas without fear of retaliation, censorship or legal sanction is being eroded here and around the world. It seems that journalists must toe the line, or expect retribution.
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