Staff at the at the legislative election’s central counting station at Asia World Expo in Tung Chung have denied entry to a Hong Kong Free Press reporter. As HKFP’s Editorial Director Kris Cheng queued up to obtain a media pass, he was told “I am sorry but you can’t [enter] as online media” by staff at the media registration area.
The reporter presented a HKFP press pass in addition to a Hong Kong Journalists Association press pass.
HKFP is among other local digital media currently blocked from attending government press conferences and even accessing government press releases as they are published.
InMedia, one of the oldest independent online media outlets, was also barred from witnessing a vote count.
繼今年2月28日立法會選舉新界東補選後，多間網媒記者，包括本網兩名記者再次被拒絕進入2016年立法會選舉中央點票中心採訪，只能以公眾人士身份排隊進場。… https://t.co/r3xcc7MRRs
— inmediahknet (@inmediahk) September 4, 2016
HKFP China reporter Catherine Lai was able to enter Wong Yiu Nam Primary School polling station in Sha Tin without hinderance.
