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.

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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 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.

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.