The Foreign Correspondents' Club Hong Kong

Security expert Stevo Stephen briefs journalists on how to stay safe covering protests

More than 100 Hong Kong journalists and Hong Kong Journalists Association members attended a talk on how to cover protests safely following a weekend of demonstrations in the city that saw violence break out, resulting in the injuries of dozens of people, among them reporters.

Stevo Stephen at the FCC. Photo: FCC

In the first of a series of FCC workshops focused on the protests in Hong Kong, security expert Stevo Stephen gave a briefing on the safest and most effective ways of covering demonstrations and street violence.

Stephen, APAC and Africa News Risk Senior Manager for the Wall Street Journal, demonstrated the best equipment to use when covering protests, including protective wear. The former private security expert, who has a background with the British Commandos, shared his knowledge on how journalists can interact with the police and demonstrators, particularly when violence breaks out.

Future FCC workshops will include sessions on the use of technology in covering the protests and the kinds of legal risks media face. With the launch of the workshops, the FCC is furthering its goal of promoting press freedom in Hong Kong by acting as a forum for education and discussion.

Watch the video

Stevo Stephen at the FCC. Photo: FCC

FCC members hold silent protest in wake of violent attacks against journalists in Hong Kong

Members of the FCC held banners declaring ‘Yes to press freedom, no to violence against journalists’ as they staged a silent protest outside the club on July 23.

The protest was organised after a weekend of anti and pro-government demonstrations that saw violence break out at Yuen Long station, resulting in injuries to dozens of people, including journalists.

Club President Jodi Schneider said: “We held the silent protest for press freedom at the FCC today to make it abundantly clear that we condemn the violence we saw in Hong Kong over the weekend and we want to express solidarity with journalists who were injured. Our message, written on posters in both Chinese and English, is simple and clear: Yes to press freedom, no to violence against journalists.”

She added: “We also are renewing our call for an independent investigation into any violence or intimidation by authorities of journalists since the protests began in June. Hong Kong law allows journalists to cover demonstrations free of intimidation or violence by the police.”

FCC statement condemning violence in Hong Kong including against journalists

FCC statement condemning violence in Hong Kong including against journalists

The Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Hong Kong strongly condemns the latest violence that injured dozens of people, including journalists, and in particular the sickening scenes of mob violence at Yuen Long.

The club expresses solidarity with the journalists who were injured. It calls on the Hong Kong police and authorities to urgently find and bring to justice those who carried out the unprecedented mob attack.

Members will hold a silent protest outside the FCC on Tuesday, July 23, at 9:30 a.m. under the banner “Yes to press freedom, no to violence against journalists.”

Also, FCC board members will be meeting with the Hong Kong Journalists Association to discuss future steps to defend media freedom in Hong Kong.

The FCC expresses its unequivocal support for the right under Hong Kong law of the Hong Kong people to hold peaceful protests and for the right of journalists to cover such demonstrations free of intimidation or violence by authorities.

The FCC renews its call for an independent investigation of all forms of violence and intimidation directed at journalists by police since the start of the protests in June and urges that such investigations be thorough and transparent.

FCC statement on July 14 silent protest march in defence of press freedom

Several Hong Kong organisations including the Hong Kong Journalists Association are organising a silent protest march this Sunday, July 14, starting at 10.30am from Harcourt Garden to the Office of the Chief Executive, in defence of press freedom in covering the Hong Kong protests free of violence. The organisers welcome working or former journalists, journalism teaching staff and students and campus news teams to join them.

HKJA Facebook post

As this silent protest occurs, the FCC reiterates its call for Hong Kong authorities to allow unfettered press access to those covering the demonstrations and urges an independent investigation of allegations made by journalists and other witnesses of the use of force by police.

FCC statement on press access during protests

Hong Kong protests: Panel discusses next move for anti-extradition bill campaign

The manner in which protesters have demonstrated again the proposed Hong Kong extradition bill, and their next move, was discussed by a panel of experts at the club on July 10.

Author and lawyer Antony Dapiran, reporter Mary Hui, and leader of the Civic Human Rights Front, Bonnie Leing Wing-Man, all gave their views on the ongoing political unrest in the city.

Watch the video here.

Changes to FCC Operations on October 5-7, 2019

FCC announces recipients of inaugural Clare Hollingworth Fellowship

The Foreign Correspondents’ Club has chosen Mary Hui and Jessie Pang as recipients of the inaugural Clare Hollingworth Fellowship, named in honour of the preeminent and path-breaking journalist.

Mary Hui, left, and Jessie Pang.

The adjudicators noted the winners offer clear potential as future leaders both within the FCC and the wider Hong Kong journalism community.

“In its first year, we were pleased and gratified by the level of talent and potential of the applicants for the fellowship,” said Jodi Schneider, president of the FCC. “Mary and Jessie both exemplify the qualities we were seeking in Fellows.”

The Fellowship is aimed at early career journalists and current journalism school students in Hong Kong.

The open competition drew significant interest from a cross spectrum of applicants. The adjudicators noted the high standard of applicants and encouraged all to apply again next year.

“The fellowship is a key part of the FCC’s outreach efforts aimed at diversifying the membership base and bringing younger talent into the club,” Schneider said.

WINNERS

Mary Hui
Mary Hui is a correspondent with Quartz covering Asia business and geopolitics. She was previously a freelancer for publications including the New York Times and Washington Post.

Jessie Pang
Jessie Pang is a recent graduate of Hong Kong University’s journalism program and is joining Reuters after an internship. Her previous freelance work appeared in publications including the Atlantic and HK01.

Further information on the Fellowship can be seen here: https://www.fcchk.org/clarehollingworth/

FCC statement on press access and journalists’ rights in covering Hong Kong protests

The Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Hong Kong calls on Hong Kong officials to ensure unfettered press access to those covering demonstrations and to uphold the rights of the media to cover such protests free of violence and intimidation by authorities. Under Hong Kong law, journalists and correspondents have a right to cover such protests.

The FCC expresses grave concern about reports of journalists with visible press identification apparently being targeted by police firing tear gas and using other crowd control measures during the recent demonstrations that resulted from the government’s proposed extradition bill. We condemn any use of force against journalists during the protests, urge an independent investigation of allegations made by journalists and other witnesses of the use of force by police, and call for such investigations to be thorough and transparent.

Brexit: Why, despite the European election results, nothing has changed since the 2016 referendum

The recent European election results actually show nothing has changed regarding Brexit in terms of how many voters want to leave the EU and how many wish to remain, says a leading British political scientist.

British political scientist, Philip Cowley, brought some clarity to the topic of Brexit when he appeared at the FCC on May 29. Photo: Sarah Graham/FCC

Despite the newly-formed Brexit Party making huge gains in the poll, taking more than 30% of the total UK votes, the country is still almost evenly split on the issue and the results mirror those of the 2016 referendum.

“It’s British politics as it has been played out since 2014, just in its latest manifestation,” said Philip Cowley, Professor of Politics at Queen Mary University of London.

But what the results of last week’s elections did show was that voters want simple and powerful messages, as was seen from the two parties to gain the most: the Brexit Party’s push to simply leave Europe, and the Liberal Democrats’ adoption of the slogan, Bollocks To Brexit., said Cowley, author of a series of books on British general elections. The parties with the biggest losses – the Conservatives and Labour – campaigned on messages that were too nuanced, he suggested.

As a Conservative leadership contest kicked off with 11 names in the ring so far – “we’ve already hit a football team and I think we’ve got more to come” – Cowley said that although Boris Johnson was the bookies favourite to win, in every Tory leadership contest since 1965, the favourite has failed to be elected.

Watch the full video here

FCC will remain ‘strong, steadfast voice for press freedom in Hong Kong’, pledges new president, Jodi Schneider

Senior Bloomberg editor Jodi Schneider pledged that the FCC Hong Kong would remain “a strong, steadfast voice for press freedom in Hong Kong, Asia and the world” as she was elected president of the prestigious press club.

Jodi Schneider.

Ms. Schneider takes over from Florence de Changy as Club President, while Eric Wishart was elected First Vice-President, it was announced this week. Tim Huxley was voted Second Vice-President.

Ms. Schneider is Senior International Editor at Bloomberg News, based in Hong Kong, where she discusses world politics and policy on Bloomberg Television and Radio, and edits coverage via the Asia Editing Hub. She is a founder and co-lead of the Women’s Voices initiative in Asia and a co-lead of the Bloomberg Women’s Community in Hong Kong. While in Washington, D.C., she was active in the National Press Club, heading the Fourth Estate Committee.

Eric Wishart.

Former AFP editor-in-chief, and past FCC president, Mr Wishart is responsible for special editorial projects for the Agency’s global news management. He teaches journalism part-time at Hong Kong University and Hong Kong Baptist University.

The FCC is one of the oldest and most famous press clubs in the world, having been established in China in 1943. Home to journalists and a host of other professionals, the members-only club provides a neutral platform for local and international speakers from the worlds of politics, business, sports and the arts. The club’s core mission is to promote and facilitate journalism of the highest standard, and to promote press freedom across the region.

“I am honoured to become the next president of the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Hong Kong, undoubtedly one of the world’s great press clubs,” Ms. Schneider said. “As president, I will make a top priority the commitment to being a strong, steadfast voice for press freedom in Hong Kong, Asia and the world. We have a long tradition as a home for discussion and debate on press freedom issues and I will work to uphold that role.”

For the full election results, visit www.fcchk.org/election-2019