雙記協譴責警清場推撞記者 Press Assns Condemn Police over Insults & Jostling

香港記者協會及香港攝影記者協會發聯合聲明，嚴厲譴責警方清場時多次用盾牌推撞前線記者的鏡頭和身體，喝罵、甚至襲擊記者，認為行為嚴重阻礙採訪，妨礙新聞自由。

聲明提到，現場記者大多數穿有「記者」或「PRESS」字眼的反光背心、佩戴記者證，並配合警方行動而後退，但即使記者多次表明身份仍然遭警方多次惡意推撞。

聲明最後強調，近期多次遊行示威中，都有警員推撞甚至辱罵記者行為，呼籲警方正視警權問題，尊重傳媒行業採訪權，維護新聞自由，保障大眾市民的知情權。

民權觀察表示，注意到多次有示威者質疑為何便衣警員及速龍小組在執勤期間未有展示委任證及警員編號，未遵循《警察通例》規定。另外，民權觀察亦高度關注有記者稱遭警員推撞及粗暴對待。

The Hong Kong Journalists Association and the Hong Kong Press Photographers Association issued a joint statement, sternly condemning the police for repeatedly using shields to push the front line reporters and their cameras, yelled at and even assaulted reporters, thus impeded freedom of the press.

The statement stated that most reporters on scene wore vests with “PRESS” printed on them, carried press passes on them and identified themselves as journalists. They added that despite following police instructions to step away from the front line, journalists faced “malicious jostling” from the police.

The two unions said similar acts against journalists had repeatedly occurred during recent protests.

“We hope the police to reflect on the issue, to respect the right for media to report, to defend press freedom and to protect the public’s right to know,” they said.

Civil Rights Watch said that many protesters questioned why plainclothes officers and the Special Tectical Squad did not display their warrants and police officer number when on duty in accordance with the Police General Order. They were also concerned about journalists have been pushed and rudely treated by the police.