The All-China Journalists Association (ACJA) on Wednesday condemned the attack of a reporter by protesters at the Hong Kong International Airport.
ACJA issued a strong statement denouncing the demonstrators’ attack on Fu Guohao, a reporter with the Global Times, saying the action was tantamount obstruction of normal news reporting.
The body also expressed solidarity with the reporter and hailed his courage after he voiced his support for the Hong Kong police even in the face of danger.
“Journalists’ personal rights and their rights in news reporting shall not be infringed upon,”ACJA’s statement said.
The journalist was held and beaten by the radical protesters in the Hong Kong International Airport on Tuesday, as they disrupted operations of the facility for a second consecutive day.
Videos of the tied up Fu circulated social media, with the protesters seen raining blows on him and throwing objects at him.
“The radicals’ brutal battery and forcible holding of the journalist is a serious personal assault and deplorable violent crime, a disregard and violation of the legitimate rights and interests of journalists, a challenge and insult to the press circle across the world and a serious trampling on freedom of the press,” the statement added.
ACJA called on the relevant authorities to apprehend and bring those involved in the act to justice.
