Hong Kong police chief apologises to reporters mistreated by officers at Mong Kok protest
- Reporters were pepper-sprayed, temporarily detained and told to turn off their cameras while covering demonstration
- But Chris Tang refuses to rule out use of force at future demonstrations, during a meeting with media groups
Hong Kong’s police chief personally offered an apology to journalists mistreated by officers at a protest earlier this month but made no promise of refraining from using force against reporters in the future, according to media representatives who attended a meeting with him on Thursday.
Police Commissioner Chris Tang Ping-keung met four media groups – the Hong Kong Journalists Association (HKJA), the Hong Kong News Executives’ Association (HKNEA), the Hong Kong Federation of Journalists and the Hong Kong Press Photographers Association (HKPPA) – to discuss concerns about officers’ treatment of journalists.
Speaking after the nearly two-hour session, HKJA chairman Chris Yeung said Tang issued a personal apology to reporters who were pepper-sprayed, temporarily detained and told to turn off their cameras in Mong Kok on May 10.
Reporters were covering a clearance operation, when police tried to disperse dozens of protesters who had blocked roads and set fire to trash.
“[Tang] said if reporters felt insulted or offended, he will apologise in his personal capacity,” Yeung said. He also found it discouraging the commissioner did not address their other demands, such as suspending and investigating officers involved in mistreating the press at the protest.
