Hong Kong journalists face unprecedented harassment from pro-China ‘patriots'

At least 15 Hong Kong journalists and their families have been facing harassment and intimidation from self-proclaimed pro-China “patriots” in recent months, the city’s largest journalist association has said.

- SHWETA SHARMA

The “systemic and organised attacks” involved death threats, and threatening and defamatory complaint letters sent to the individuals since June, the Hong Kong Journalists Association (HKJA) said.

Those targeted include 15 journalists, their families and associates – including landlords, charities, schools and private businesses – who have received anonymous complaints by email or letter, HKJA chairperson Selina Cheng said in a press conference.

She said HKJA’s executive committee and 13 media outlets including the Hong Kong Free Press, Hong Kong Inmedia, HK Feature and two journalism education institutions, have also faced intimidation. “I think this is the largest scale harassment against reporters in Hong Kong that we have thus far known of,” Ms Cheng said. “We are making a loud call today to say that we do not accept such behaviour.”