China News Service, Hong Kong, September 25. The Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Carrie Lam, pointed out on social platforms on the 25th that the Hong Kong police use the Special Administrative Region Government’s press release system as a platform to define who are "media representatives" and provide them in police operations. Providing special arrangements is not to suppress press freedom or screen journalists.
The Hong Kong police recently sent a letter to four media organizations in Hong Kong stating that they will amend the definition of “media representative” under the General Police Regulations, specifying that a media representative must belong to a media organization that has been registered in the press release system of the Information Service of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government or an international Recognized and well-known non-Hong Kong news agencies, newspapers, magazines, radio and television broadcasters.
Carrie Lam said in a post on the 25th that she "doesn't vomit or complain" after seeing a lot of news still surrounding this incident.
She pointed out that the SAR government's press release system is an objective, open, and non-discriminatory service platform. It is an important platform for the SAR government to strengthen its contact with the media and provide services for the media.
Registered media organizations can not only receive news from the Information Office of the Special Administrative Region Government and various government departments, but can also attend press conferences held by various policy bureaux and departments, and receive interview notices on government activities.
She mentioned that so far, 206 media organizations have registered in this system, including Hong Kong media, international media, and online media.
In the past three years, a total of more than 30 purely online media organizations have been registered in the SAR government’s press release system and enjoyed the same services as other traditional media.
Carrie Lam said that the police use the SAR government’s press release system to define “media representatives” to provide special arrangements for “media representatives” in police operations, such as being able to enter the cordoned area for interviews and taking pictures in special locations. Arranging "media representatives" to attend press conferences or attend events for interviews makes no difference. It is not about suppressing press freedom or screening journalists.
She emphasized that the "Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China" protects Hong Kong residents' freedom of speech, news, and publication, and this will not change.
(Finish)