The Hong Kong Journalists Association has filed a complaint with the Ombudsman over the government’s refusal to recognise online media outlets and grant them access to official events.
Under the current policy, digital-only media are barred from attending government events and press conferences, and have no access to notices and press releases via the Information Services Department.
In a press release on Monday, the organisation said that the ban, which violated press freedom and limited the public’s right to know, was unjust. It also said that the government should allow reporters with press passes issued by the HKJA, the Hong Kong Press Photographers Association and other organisations to attend its events – as was the practice adopted by many international organisations.
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HKJA said that it was “completely unacceptable” for the government to go against the promises of press freedom guaranteed under the Basic Law and base its decision on “administrative reasons”.
‘Main source of news’
“Furthermore, studies have shown that online media is gradually replacing print media in becoming the public’s main source of news, meaning that discriminating against online media will impose great limits on freedom of information,” HKJA said.
According to the group, many international organisations such as the United Nations and the European Parliament have settled upon a definition of “online media.” Some require content to contain elements of diversity and originality, and for there to be frequent updates. Therefore, the reasons given by the government for the ban were misleading and forced, it said.
HKJA also slammed the policy as “ridiculous” and “outdated,” saying that more and more online news platforms have emerged in recent years, with many of them hiring hundreds of reporters who have undergone professional training. Thanks to the government’s policy, journalists who switched over to online media from print would suddenly lose their recognition.
With the Legislative Council elections drawing closer, HKJA urged the Ombudsman to deal with the complaint as soon as possible so as to allow online media to attend official government events. During the New Territories East by-elections in February, several online media outlets reported that their staff were prevented from entering the media centre to cover the vote counting.
In May, the Legislative Council announced that it will stop distinguishing online media from other types of media outlets when the new term begins in September. Reporters at digital news outlets will also be granted permanent media passes to report from the building; currently, they are only given temporary passes.
