本港三間電子傳媒包括now新聞台、香港電台及商業電台的記者，今日(6日)於印尼峇里亞太經合組織領導人峰會會場，向菲律賓總統阿基諾三世提問，大會工作人員卻以記者高聲叫囂不合禮儀為由，即場沒收記者的採訪證，並趕離會場，更取消進入會場及新聞中心資格。香港記者協會對事件表示極度憤怒及不滿，當局以記者提問聲線作為藉口沒收採訪證，是粗暴踐踏新聞自由與公眾知情權。本會強烈要求大會立即發還採訪證，尊重新聞自由。

 

就此，本會今日向亞太經合組織領導人峰會主辦單位發出公開信，要求立刻跟進事件。信件全文如下(只提供英文版)：

 

 

香港記者協會

2013/10/7

 

 

 (只提供英文版本)

---

Wishnu Wardhana

APEC CEO Summit 2013 Chair

ABAC INDONESIA

Mitra Building, 2nd Floor

Jl. Jenderal Gatot Subroto Kav. 21

Jakarta 12930, Indonesia

 

 

 

Dear Mr Wishnu Wardhana,

 

 

We are writing to express our anger over an incident yesterday (6 Oct 2013) that a number of Hong Kong reporters were barred from covering the APEC ministerial conference taking place in Bali, Indonesia.

 

The move came after some Hong Kong reporters asked the president of Philippines Benigno Aquino III several questions on the sidelines of the summit.  He did not answer the questions, then several APEC staff approached those reporters and seized their press badges, saying, “We don't welcome you. You offended our Excellency.”  

 

The reporters were then told they were not allowed to cover the Summit. APEC subsequently deactivated their press badges and barred them from entering the Media Centre.  At least nine people, including journalists and technicians, from three Hong Kong electronic media outlets, namely Now TV, Commercial Radio and Radio Television Hong Kong were affected.  

 

We are also astonished to hear from the news report this morning that the officials of the APEC Media Centre accused reporters of posing a security threat at the conference.

 

We are angry with such absurd and vicious accusation.  It is completely an attempt to discredit the integrity of Hong Kong reporters.

 

We insist that it is journalists' ordinary duty to ask questions of public concern.  The Hong Kong public remains concerned with the killing of its people during the hostage taking crisis for which Manila has yet to provide a satisfactory explanation.  The barring of the media for asking critical questions is an outright infringement of press freedom and public's right to know that is totally unacceptable. We are appalled to see such outrageous actions are allowed to take place at an enormous international gathering like APEC. 

 

We strongly condemn the barring and urge the APEC ministerial conference's organizer and relevant authorities to take up the matter immediately to make sure that our reporters can resume their ordinary duty very soon.  We also look forward to a satisfactory explanation of this incident and an assurance that no reporter will be restricted from carrying out their work again in the future. 

 

We look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience.

 

 

Sincerely,

Hong Kong Journalists Association

 

 

cc.  

Benigno Aquino III, President of the Philippines

Mr Leung Chun Ying, Chief Executive of HKSAR 

Dr Alan BOLLARD (Mr), APEC Executive Director

Mr Gatot S Dewa Broto, PR & Information Centre Head, APEC CEO Summit 2013

Ms Sofia Sudarma, Directorate General for Information & Public Diplomacy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs RI, APEC CEO Summit 2013