Seven Hong Kong journalists have reported to be attacked and arrested by police in Urumqi while covering protests in the capital of Xinjiang last week.
On 4th September, Lam Tze-Ho, a senior reporter of the Hong Kong TVB Channel, two cameramen, Lau Wing-Chuen and Lam Chun-Wai, were tired up, handcuffed and beaten by police while filming the ongoing protests in Urumqi. They were released after three hours of detainment. One of the clips with the recording of the beating was confiscated.
“I believe they[the police officers] were not targeting anyone in particular,” Lam Tze-Ho said.
"But after they fired tear gas, they arrested people close by -- such as reporters. They used batons to beat us. My shoulder was struck and they also kicked my knee and leg," Lam told local media.
A video featuring the arrest was broadcasted on TV.
Hou Hanmin, director of the Xinjing Information Office, defended the police action by accusing the three journalists of inciting protesters and not having valid credentials. However, the Xinjing authority later corrected that it was just a misunderstanding; the police officers arrested the journalists because the authenticity of the press identifications was questionable.
Two days later, a similar incident took place -- five Hong Kong reporters were briefly detained as they tried to interview people who had been tear-gassed during the riot.
"We were detained on the ground that our presence would further provoke the restive crowd," Yeung, one of the detained reporter, said after his release. "They [police] pushed us around when they took us away."
This is not the first time that such attacks have been reported in recent years and many Chinese journalists fear for their safety while reporting in mainland China. Some Hong Kong journalists admit that they tend to avoid filming areas guarded by riot police.
The events provoked a lot of discussions in Hong Kong.
Donald Tsang Yam-Kuen, Chief Executive of the Special Administrative Region, told the local newspaper SCMP that he had "reflected the strong concerns" expressed by the Hong Kong media over the incident to the State Council's Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office and to the Xinjiang authorities.
But, many are not satisfied with Tsang's rather diplomatic speech. Lawmakers and politicians decided to take actions and express their concerns directly to the country's Vice President Xi Jinping and Premier Wen Jiabao. They demanded the central government to investigate on the incidents and to issue an official apology. The Hong Kong Journalists Association supported the action and may organise a demonstration to channel their concerns.
On the other hand, there are also pro-central government voices.
Former local delegate to the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, Tsang Hin-Chi said that the media in Hong Kong should not over dramatise the incident.
"I hope that the media in Hong Kong can be more understanding and act for the benefits of both Hong Kong and her motherland. China has achieved so much in sixty years. I think the media should tone down their coverage of it - no matter who is right or wrong." Tsang said.
"But after they fired tear gas, they arrested people close by -- such as reporters. They used batons to beat us. My shoulder was struck and they also kicked my knee and leg," Lam told local media.
A video featuring the arrest was broadcasted on TV.
Hou Hanmin, director of the Xinjing Information Office, defended the police action by accusing the three journalists of inciting protesters and not having valid credentials. However, the Xinjing authority later corrected that it was just a misunderstanding; the police officers arrested the journalists because the authenticity of the press identifications was questionable.
Two days later, a similar incident took place -- five Hong Kong reporters were briefly detained as they tried to interview people who had been tear-gassed during the riot.
"We were detained on the ground that our presence would further provoke the restive crowd," Yeung, one of the detained reporter, said after his release. "They [police] pushed us around when they took us away."
This is not the first time that such attacks have been reported in recent years and many Chinese journalists fear for their safety while reporting in mainland China. Some Hong Kong journalists admit that they tend to avoid filming areas guarded by riot police.
The events provoked a lot of discussions in Hong Kong.
Donald Tsang Yam-Kuen, Chief Executive of the Special Administrative Region, told the local newspaper SCMP that he had "reflected the strong concerns" expressed by the Hong Kong media over the incident to the State Council's Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office and to the Xinjiang authorities.
But, many are not satisfied with Tsang's rather diplomatic speech. Lawmakers and politicians decided to take actions and express their concerns directly to the country's Vice President Xi Jinping and Premier Wen Jiabao. They demanded the central government to investigate on the incidents and to issue an official apology. The Hong Kong Journalists Association supported the action and may organise a demonstration to channel their concerns.
On the other hand, there are also pro-central government voices.
Former local delegate to the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, Tsang Hin-Chi said that the media in Hong Kong should not over dramatise the incident.
"I hope that the media in Hong Kong can be more understanding and act for the benefits of both Hong Kong and her motherland. China has achieved so much in sixty years. I think the media should tone down their coverage of it - no matter who is right or wrong." Tsang said.
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