China: Leader of Hong Kong journalists' group imprisoned for obstructing police

The leader of the largest group of journalists in Hong Kong was given a five-day jail sentence on Monday for impeding police officers in September of last year, in a case that some criticised as further restricting media freedoms in the financial centre.

While covering a story, Ronson Chan, the head of the Hong Kong Journalists Association, was stopped and handcuffed by two plainclothes officers when he refused to produce his personal identification card.

Chan, who entered a not-guilty plea, previously informed the court that he had requested the police to display their warrant cards before turning over his identification, which is required of all residents of Hong Kong.

A fine rather than jail time, according to Magistrate Leung Ka-kie, would not adequately reflect the seriousness of Chan’s offence.

Leung declined to consider community work as a substitute because she believed Chan had shown no remorse.

After Chan’s attorneys indicated that he would file an appeal, Leung did allow him HK$30,000 ($3,800) in bail. The journalist had to turn over his travel documents because he is unable to leave Hong Kong.

Chan stated in a statement following the court that the jail sentence did not surprise him. “Everyone can see the court’s perspective on the matter. I believe that we are just people,” he stated.

While acknowledging that it was difficult to predict how his case would affect press freedom, Chan expressed his hope that journalists would “stand firm” in their obligation to report the truth for Hong Kong and the rest of the world.

The appeal has not yet been given a deadline.

Following the adoption of a national security law by Chinese authorities in June 2020, the Hong Kong Journalists Association is among the remaining significant professional organisations in Hong Kong that advocates for fundamental rights and press freedoms.

Given the freedoms afforded to Hong Kong when it was returned to Chinese control by Britain in 1997, the law has drawn criticism from several Western nations as being restrictive. Officials from Beijing and Hong Kong have stated that the measure is necessary to restore stability to the city after months of pro-democracy protests in 2019.

(With agency inputs)