My Take | Beacon of press freedom must not be allowed to dim

Hong Kong has long taken pride in being a place where journalists can get on with their job without fear of arrest. The presence of a vibrant media industry thriving on press freedom has made the city stand out when compared to other parts of Asia. But times are changing. The sentencing of a journalist for accessing a government database last week could be a watershed.

Bao Choy Yuk-ling, a freelance contributor for public broadcaster RTHK, was fined HK$6,000 after being found guilty of making two false statements when searching for details of car ownership on the Transport Department’s website.

She had used the information to track down a car owner to interview. This was part of her work on an award-winning television programme broadcast last July. The show shed light on a mob attack on protesters and passengers at Yuen Long MTR station during the civil unrest of 2019. It was critical of the way police handled the incident.

Choy obtained details from the database in a way that was standard practice for local journalists. The website requires users to state the purpose of their search by ticking one of three boxes. But the options do not include journalism. She ticked the box that said “other traffic and transport related matters”. Choy had no reason to think this would lead to her arrest. It came as a shock to the city’s journalists when she was prosecuted. She was simply doing her job.

Choy is credible and articulate. She looked more like a victim than a defendant when she emerged from court and spoke to the media.

Principal Magistrate Ivy Chui Yee-mei found her guilty on the basis that details available on the database can only be accessed for matters strictly related to traffic and transport. Choy’s reporting did not fall into this category, the court found.