hkskyline
November 7th, 2005, 08:37 PM
Freedom fears after bomb hits Ming Pao
A parcel bomb attack on a leading Chinese-language newspaper office, which injured two employees, drew widespread condemnation Monday.
Michael Ng and Winnie Chong
Hong Kong Standard
Tuesday, November 08, 2005
A parcel bomb attack on a leading Chinese-language newspaper office, which injured two employees, drew widespread condemnation Monday.
The attack, believed to be the first of its kind in Hong Kong, came when a bomb exploded at the Ming Pao office, sparking concerns over freedom of the press in a city where assaults on journalists are rare.
Chief Executive Donald Tsang and security chief Ambrose Lee both said the government will never tolerate such an incident and pledged to safeguard the press.
In a statement, Ming Pao's management said: "We strongly condemn this violent act. Protection of media freedom is the duty of our news workers. We will not yield because of the threat."
Ming Pao's chief editor Cheung Kin-bao said two staffers suffered slight injuries after they opened a small parcel containing an explosive device at their editorial office on Ka Yip Street, Chai Wan, about 2pm Monday.
The package was addressed to Cheung, his wife and a Mr Kam, and an anonymous letter was attached to a bunch of flowers that accompanied the parcel.
The letter said the attack was related to "good things" Ming Pao had reported in mid-October.
"You all know [what I am talking about]," the letter said, adding that the newspaper had three days to pay the Community Chest of Hong Kong HK$30 million and publish the receipt in the paper.
Community Chest said it had to investigate the matter before commenting.
The extortionist warned Ming Pao not to do anything similar in the future, or suffer the consequences of "a more serious punishment next time."
Cheung said he had no idea what report the letter referred to, but that the company will investigate. He said the significance of the attack goes beyond Ming Pao.
"I think this illegal act poses a significant threat to our industry as the assailant is not joking. He [or she] sent a real explosive device to our office."
The Paris-based press freedom group, Reporters Without Borders, denounced the attack immediately. "It is very shocking because this type of violence is absolutely unusual in Hong Kong," said RSF representative Vincent Bossel. "It may mean that specific groups in Hong Kong are ready to use violence against journalists."
Cheung said the attack came as a complete surprise and that he had received no threats in the past month. His 45-year-old secretary, identified only by her surname Yu, suffered facial injuries and was in a stable condition last night at Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital in Chai Wan.
The second victim, a 31-year-old female staff member, was taken to hospital suffering from smoke inhalation but was discharged soon after.
Police Senior Inspector Chan Kin- hung said the attack is classified as an explosion and assault case.
He urged the public to provide information on a male courier in his 50s, who delivered the watchbox-sized parcel and flowers to the newspaper office yesterday, to investigate whether he had any connection with the attack.
According to Chan, the device contained a battery and a few grams of explosives which he did not identify.
Responding to the attack, Donald Tsang said he had no doubt that the police would track down the bomber, while Secretary for Security Ambrose Lee said he is very concerned about the incident.
"Hong Kong is a free and peaceful community," Lee said. "The Hong Kong government treasures freedom of the press and freedom of speech. We will not allow any violent or illegal act to influence journalists." Hong Kong Journalists Association vice chairman Camoes Tam said the incident is unforgivable and could lead to self- censorship by reporters.
The Hong Kong News Executives' Association said in a statement that it will not tolerate threats to media freedom.
Chinese University of Hong Kong School of Journalism director Clement So said the blast targeted the news media and challenged police. "It's very stupid as the attacker should know that he or she can never achieve their aim [of silencing the press] and Ming Pao will not donate money," So said.
Leung Tin-wai, head of the Department of Journalism and Communication at Shue Yan College and himself a victim of an attack, said the incident was shocking. In 1996, Leung was attacked in his office at the Chinese- language magazine Surprise Weekly by two assailants who chopped off his hand. The attackers were never caught.
Leung said he is confident that freedom of speech in Hong Kong will not be threatened. "We should be united to fight against violence," he said.
Last Wednesday, a Next magazine news photographer was injured by two assailants wielding metal bars near his home.
A parcel bomb attack on a leading Chinese-language newspaper office, which injured two employees, drew widespread condemnation Monday.
Michael Ng and Winnie Chong
Hong Kong Standard
Tuesday, November 08, 2005
A parcel bomb attack on a leading Chinese-language newspaper office, which injured two employees, drew widespread condemnation Monday.
The attack, believed to be the first of its kind in Hong Kong, came when a bomb exploded at the Ming Pao office, sparking concerns over freedom of the press in a city where assaults on journalists are rare.
Chief Executive Donald Tsang and security chief Ambrose Lee both said the government will never tolerate such an incident and pledged to safeguard the press.
In a statement, Ming Pao's management said: "We strongly condemn this violent act. Protection of media freedom is the duty of our news workers. We will not yield because of the threat."
Ming Pao's chief editor Cheung Kin-bao said two staffers suffered slight injuries after they opened a small parcel containing an explosive device at their editorial office on Ka Yip Street, Chai Wan, about 2pm Monday.
The package was addressed to Cheung, his wife and a Mr Kam, and an anonymous letter was attached to a bunch of flowers that accompanied the parcel.
The letter said the attack was related to "good things" Ming Pao had reported in mid-October.
"You all know [what I am talking about]," the letter said, adding that the newspaper had three days to pay the Community Chest of Hong Kong HK$30 million and publish the receipt in the paper.
Community Chest said it had to investigate the matter before commenting.
The extortionist warned Ming Pao not to do anything similar in the future, or suffer the consequences of "a more serious punishment next time."
Cheung said he had no idea what report the letter referred to, but that the company will investigate. He said the significance of the attack goes beyond Ming Pao.
"I think this illegal act poses a significant threat to our industry as the assailant is not joking. He [or she] sent a real explosive device to our office."
The Paris-based press freedom group, Reporters Without Borders, denounced the attack immediately. "It is very shocking because this type of violence is absolutely unusual in Hong Kong," said RSF representative Vincent Bossel. "It may mean that specific groups in Hong Kong are ready to use violence against journalists."
Cheung said the attack came as a complete surprise and that he had received no threats in the past month. His 45-year-old secretary, identified only by her surname Yu, suffered facial injuries and was in a stable condition last night at Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital in Chai Wan.
The second victim, a 31-year-old female staff member, was taken to hospital suffering from smoke inhalation but was discharged soon after.
Police Senior Inspector Chan Kin- hung said the attack is classified as an explosion and assault case.
He urged the public to provide information on a male courier in his 50s, who delivered the watchbox-sized parcel and flowers to the newspaper office yesterday, to investigate whether he had any connection with the attack.
According to Chan, the device contained a battery and a few grams of explosives which he did not identify.
Responding to the attack, Donald Tsang said he had no doubt that the police would track down the bomber, while Secretary for Security Ambrose Lee said he is very concerned about the incident.
"Hong Kong is a free and peaceful community," Lee said. "The Hong Kong government treasures freedom of the press and freedom of speech. We will not allow any violent or illegal act to influence journalists." Hong Kong Journalists Association vice chairman Camoes Tam said the incident is unforgivable and could lead to self- censorship by reporters.
The Hong Kong News Executives' Association said in a statement that it will not tolerate threats to media freedom.
Chinese University of Hong Kong School of Journalism director Clement So said the blast targeted the news media and challenged police. "It's very stupid as the attacker should know that he or she can never achieve their aim [of silencing the press] and Ming Pao will not donate money," So said.
Leung Tin-wai, head of the Department of Journalism and Communication at Shue Yan College and himself a victim of an attack, said the incident was shocking. In 1996, Leung was attacked in his office at the Chinese- language magazine Surprise Weekly by two assailants who chopped off his hand. The attackers were never caught.
Leung said he is confident that freedom of speech in Hong Kong will not be threatened. "We should be united to fight against violence," he said.
Last Wednesday, a Next magazine news photographer was injured by two assailants wielding metal bars near his home.