Hong Kong: CFWIJ Urges Authorities To Investigate Stalking Of Women Journalists
Location: Hong Kong
Date: March 31, 2023
Several Hong Kong women journalists were stalked and harassed by unidentified people. The reporters were tailed for hours by men wearing earpieces. The Coalition For Women In Journalism calls on the Hong Kong authorities to cease surveillance immediately.
On March 21, 2023, two unidentified men followed several women reporters after covering an ongoing press freedom trial involving the prosecution of independent news outlet Stand News Editor-in-Chief.
According to Hong Kong Free Press (HKFP), the perpetrators waited outside Hong Kong’s Wanchai District Court press room. Court security seemed to “confirm” their identities, after which one of the men loitered for an extended period in an attempt to tail journalists as soon as they left the courthouse.
The following day, a court reporter was followed by two unidentified people from her home to her workplace. She was stalked relentlessly for over an hour. One of the culprits declined to identify themselves. The entire incident was filmed and tweeted by HKFP.
They reported the incident to the police.
The Hong Kong Journalists Association (HKJA) said these are not isolated cases. Many other journalists have reported similar incidents.
Various journalists have raised concerns with HKJA that covert police officers were behind the stalking episodes in large part due to their demeanor, semblance, and the nature of communication with court security.
According to a South China Morning Post report, Hong Kong Assistant Police Chief said the force ‘deeply regretted and expressed strong dissatisfaction’ with the Hong Kong Journalists Association’s statement.
Hong Kong, once considered a bulwark of press freedom, has plunged to 148th in the 2022 RSF World Press Freedom Index. This is a drastic drop from its 80th ranking position in 2021.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism condemns surveilling journalists. We urge the Hong Kong police to transparently investigate the matter and confirm whether they have conducted any operations to find the culprits and bring them to justice.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.
If you have been harassed or abused in any way, and please report the incident by using the following form.