Hong Kong journalist charged as press freedom fears grow
A Hong Kong journalist appeared in court Tuesday on charges of earning false statements while obtaining information from a vehicle database, amid growing concerns that press freedom reaches risk in the semi-autonomous Chinese city. Choy Yuk-ling, a producer at public broadcaster Radio Television Hong Kong, was arrested earlier this month on charges of making false statements about why she was obtaining license plate information from a publicly accessible database.
She was previously mixed up in production of an investigative documentary in to the behavior of Hong Kong police during last year's anti-government protests, following the force was accused of not intervening throughout a violent clash between protesters and a mob of men in a subway station.
Ahead of her court appearance, Choy told reporters the case was a matter linked to public interest and press freedom in Hong Kong."There's been a very strong social knowing that journalists are absolve to obtain public information for the sake of public interest," she said. "I didn't see any reason that the federal government has to restrict the flow of information."
She said that lots of scholars, unions and legal representatives have expressed concerns concerning whether the police are employing regulations to suppress press freedom. Members from an RTHK union, together with supporters and pro-democracy activists, organized placards in support of Choy, some of which read "Journalism isn't a crime" and "Without concern with favor."
Choy's case was adjourned until Jan. 14 to provide the police additional time to investigate, and she premiered on bail. Media groups are worried Hong Kong's new security law, which outlaws secession, subversion and foreign collusion to interfere in the city's internal matters, could be used against journalist reporting on issues thought to be linked to national security. The US and others have denounced the law imposed by Beijing as an attack on Hong Kong's autonomy and freedoms. The US STATE DEPT. on Monday announced sanctions against additional Chinese officials over the crackdown.
