Hong Kong journalist group reveals systemic harassment targeting reporters News
Tong, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Hong Kong journalist group reveals systemic harassment targeting reporters

Hong Kong Journalists Association (HKJA) reported on Friday that reporters from at least 13 media outlets in Hong Kong have been subjected to both online and offline harassment as part of a systematic and organized campaign.

During a press conference, HKJA chairperson Selina Cheng stated that at least 15 journalists, along with their family members and acquaintances, have received defamatory emails and letters at their homes and workplaces. These communications contained harassment, intimidation and doxxing. Some letters even warned that continued association with journalists could result in violations of Hong Kong’s national security laws.

Cheng further highlighted that hate-filled posts targeting journalists was also posted on Facebook. At least 36 journalists have been named and their photos were circulated in private groups, some of which included death threats.

Cheng expressed concern about how those responsible for the harassment obtained the personal information about the journalists, raising suspicions of an unlawful leak of private data from government databases.

Hong Kong Free Press, one of the targeted organizations, stated that its director was threatened to leave their property and the district. The organization affirmed that these threats would not deter them from continuing their work.

Last, Cheng stated that some reporters, along with the HKJA, have reported these incidents to the Hong Kong Police Force and the Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data. However, the police has yet launch any investigations.

This harassment directly infringes on the freedom of expression, a right guaranteed by Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which Hong Kong is a signatory party. By intimidating journalists, these actions seek to silence free reporting and communication, undermining fundamental press freedoms.

Furthermore, the potential breach of privacy and unauthorized access to journalists’ personal data raise serious concerns under Article 17 of the ICCPR, which protects individuals from arbitrary or unlawful interference in their personal life.

In July, Wall Street Journal fired Selina Cheng for refusing to step down from her role on the HKJA board, sparking further concerns about press freedom in Hong Kong. In an August press release issued, the HKJA stated that press freedom in the city is at its lowest point in 11 years, largely due to the introduction of Article 23 national security legislation. The Media Freedom Coalition also raised alarms about the state of media freedom in Hong Kong following the enactment of the China-imposed national security law in 2020.

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