FLASH
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In a rare move, Beijing's national security arm in Hong Kong, the Office for the Protection of National Security, summoned international journalists on December 6 to warn them against spreading false information and "crossing red lines" after critical coverage of the apartment complex fire that killed at least 159 people, the Committee to Protect Journalists said in a statement.
Foreign media outlets, including Agence France-Presse, the Financial Times, The New York Times, the Associated Press, Bloomberg and The Wall Street Journal, were told there would be tolerance for “troublemaking,” according to these news organizations and media reports. Officials did not provide specific examples of the allegedly problematic coverage nor did they take questions, the reports said.
That same day, national security police confirmed they had arrested Wong, a columnist and commentator who publishes under the name Wong On-yin. Police accused him of posting videos about the official response to the fire with the intent of "inciting" to provoke "hatred" against the government.
"The escalation of threats to silence the media is appalling and unacceptable," said CPJ Asia-Pacific Director Beh Lih Yi.
"It is shameful that authorities in Beijing and Hong Kong are using national security as a pretext to harass journalists and silence calls for accountability when the people of Hong Kong are mourning a tragedy."
Wong's commentary was published by several media outlets, including the now-shuttered Apple Daily, which was founded by imprisoned publisher Jimmy Lai. He also runs a YouTube channel on current affairs and previously hosted news programs on local radio.
Police summoned Wong on December 2 regarding his comments about the fire and plans to hold a press conference demanding accountability. The next day, he uploaded an hour-long video, now removed, to his YouTube channel detailing his interrogation by police. Police said the video had undermined a national security investigation.
China consistently ranks as the worst jailer of journalists in the world, with at least 50 behind bars, according to recent CPJ research.
Hong Kong police did not immediately respond to CPJ's emailed request for comment.
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