The Hong Kong reporters are slightly better than the Singapore commando at National Library?
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/...rs-kicked-out-apec-summit-screaming-questions
Hong Kong reporters kicked out of Apec summit for 'screaming' questions at President Aquino
Radio and TV crews lose their press passes after questions 'screamed' at Benigno Aquino
Johnny Tam
[email protected]
Staff at the Apec summit in Bali, Indonesia have been accused of stifling press freedom after Hong Kong journalists were ejected from the venue and their press passes taken away for "screaming" questions at Philippine President Benigno Aquino.
Lawmaker James To Kun-sun said he suspected Manila had pressed organisers of the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation summit to take the action and urged the Hong Kong government to step in.
Reporters from Now TV, RTHK and Commercial Radio were questioning Aquino in a non-restricted area of the Bali International Convention Centre in Nusa Dua yesterday at about 2pm when the incident took place. He was asked if he would meet Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying and apologise to the families of the victims of the Manila hostage crisis three years ago. He did not reply to the questions.
Now TV footage showed an Apec staff member telling a reporter: "You know that decency includes not screaming … Now, out." The reporter's press pass was then confiscated.
Another Apec staff member told the reporters: "You embarrassed one of our visitors." The passes of the other two reporters and two cameramen were then taken away. The Apec staff did not say if they had been acting on the orders of the Philippine authorities or summit host Indonesia.
Another reporter, cameraman and two technicians from Now TV who were not there at the time later found their passes had been cancelled when they were unable to get into the venue.
At least nine media staff from the three stations were affected.
Journalists Association chairwoman Sham Yee-lan said the "rudeness" of the Apec staff had stifled press freedom. "Whether they're loud or not, it's very subjective. Even if they were loud, it doesn't mean they were impolite," Sham said. "This has deprived Hongkongers of media reports on the rest of the summit."
Now TV expressed its regret over the incident and asked the Hong Kong government to step in to help get their passes back. RTHK said it was following up the matter with the government.
A government spokeswoman said it would pursue the matter.
Seven Hong Kong tourists and their guide were killed and several others hurt when a sacked Manila policeman took them hostage at gunpoint aboard their tour bus in the Philippine capital in 2010. A bungled rescue saw the gunman shot dead by police.
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/...rs-kicked-out-apec-summit-screaming-questions
Hong Kong reporters kicked out of Apec summit for 'screaming' questions at President Aquino
Radio and TV crews lose their press passes after questions 'screamed' at Benigno Aquino
Johnny Tam
[email protected]
Staff at the Apec summit in Bali, Indonesia have been accused of stifling press freedom after Hong Kong journalists were ejected from the venue and their press passes taken away for "screaming" questions at Philippine President Benigno Aquino.
Lawmaker James To Kun-sun said he suspected Manila had pressed organisers of the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation summit to take the action and urged the Hong Kong government to step in.
Reporters from Now TV, RTHK and Commercial Radio were questioning Aquino in a non-restricted area of the Bali International Convention Centre in Nusa Dua yesterday at about 2pm when the incident took place. He was asked if he would meet Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying and apologise to the families of the victims of the Manila hostage crisis three years ago. He did not reply to the questions.
Now TV footage showed an Apec staff member telling a reporter: "You know that decency includes not screaming … Now, out." The reporter's press pass was then confiscated.
Another Apec staff member told the reporters: "You embarrassed one of our visitors." The passes of the other two reporters and two cameramen were then taken away. The Apec staff did not say if they had been acting on the orders of the Philippine authorities or summit host Indonesia.
Another reporter, cameraman and two technicians from Now TV who were not there at the time later found their passes had been cancelled when they were unable to get into the venue.
At least nine media staff from the three stations were affected.
Journalists Association chairwoman Sham Yee-lan said the "rudeness" of the Apec staff had stifled press freedom. "Whether they're loud or not, it's very subjective. Even if they were loud, it doesn't mean they were impolite," Sham said. "This has deprived Hongkongers of media reports on the rest of the summit."
Now TV expressed its regret over the incident and asked the Hong Kong government to step in to help get their passes back. RTHK said it was following up the matter with the government.
A government spokeswoman said it would pursue the matter.
Seven Hong Kong tourists and their guide were killed and several others hurt when a sacked Manila policeman took them hostage at gunpoint aboard their tour bus in the Philippine capital in 2010. A bungled rescue saw the gunman shot dead by police.
