Hong Kong Journalists’ Association Reports Increased Harassment of Journalists and Their Families

Selina Cheng, Chairperson of Hong Kong Journalists Association, spoke to the media on Sept. 13, 2024. Adrian Yu/The Epoch Times

Hong Kong journalists and families are facing an increasing wave of harassment and threats both online and offline, with incidents becoming more frequent and severe in recent months, Hong Kong Journalists Association (HKJA) Chairperson Selina Cheng told a press conference on Sept. 13.

The HKJA’s investigation found that systematic harassment was concentrated between June and August this year, with a significant increase between mid- and late August. It affected 15 organizations, including 13 media outlets and two journalism training institutions. Among those targeted were the HKJA, Hong Kong Free Press, Inmedia, and Hong Kong Feature.

Since June, at least 15 families of journalists, as well as their employers or landlords, were said to have received anonymous complaint emails from Microsoft Outlook accounts claiming to be from “patriots.” These messages, which often contained threats, varied in tone. Larger organizations have received formal complaints, while smaller outlets have received threatening messages, sometimes with the journalist’s photo and text resembling a ransom note.

Since August, hostile posts targeting media outlets and journalists have appeared on Facebook, accusing legitimate reporting as illegal or seditious. The HKJA found that at least 36 journalists from various outlets were named in these posts.

In some cases, harassers edited or posted Wikipedia entries containing threats. In at least four incidents, harassing messages were sent to reporters’ work or home phone numbers shortly after these posts went live.

The aim is to intimidate journalists, their families, or associates by disrupting their sources of income or social connections in order to pressure, isolate, and threaten them and to force journalists to resign from their jobs or trade union roles, the HKJA said.

Cheng described these attacks as “coordinated and systematic,” and explained that the aim was to target the journalistic community rather than specific individuals. The HKJA condemned these intimidation tactics and reiterated its commitment to stand firm against efforts to silence the press.

Cheng likened the harassment to a “fishing expedition,” where perpetrators move on if the target does not respond. At least four victims who engaged with the perpetrators experienced escalating harassment. She urged journalists to report the incidents to the police, notify the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data (PCPD), and avoid interacting with the harassers.

While some messages referenced issues such as Taiwan’s elections or Hong Kong’s ban on Japanese seafood, Cheng said that the harassment did not appear to be linked to specific stories or outlets.

Cheng and two of her family members were harassed in late July. The emails accused her relatives of fostering “anti-China sentiments” and threatened their employers, warning that they may risk violating the National Security Law or Article 23,  if they continued to associate with Cheng’s family members.

The HKJA Responds

The HKJA and at least three journalists have reported their respective incidents to the police.

The HKJA condemned these actions as bullying and a serious violation of press freedom in Hong Kong. The harassers used defamation and intimidation to undermine the journalists’ ability to work freely.

The Association has also contacted platforms such as Meta and Wikipedia. Wikipedia has since banned a user who posted journalists’ personal information. The HKJA is also taking legal action and has filed complaints with the PCPD.

In addition, three victims reported that their luggage was searched by customs upon re-entering Hong Kong, and two of them received threatening WhatsApp messages shortly after arrival. The HKJA expressed concerns about possible government data leaks, as the harassers had access to personal information that should not be publicly available.

Although there is no direct evidence linking the harassment to government agencies, the HKJA has called for an investigation and urged the authorities to protect the journalists’ privacy.

Support For Journalists

The HKJA urges journalists and their families affected by harassment to seek professional support, either from the HKJA or mental health services. The Association has set up emotional counseling services to help those impacted by the incidents.

It also advises journalists to take steps to safeguard their personal information, such as not sharing family photos online and using strong, unique passwords with two-step verification for their accounts.

Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee responded to a question on this issue at his weekly press conference on Sept. 17, saying that in Hong Kong, anyone who needs assistance from law enforcement agencies can report to the police or the relevant law enforcement agencies such as the Immigration Department, or Customs or Excise Department. “The law enforcement agencies will handle the cases impartially,” he said.