香港警察於2020年11月3日上門拘捕蔡玉玲女士，以不合情不合理的「所謂條例」作政治打壓新聞工作者，本會譴責有關破壞新聞自由、漠視公眾知情權的醜行。

《個人資料（私隱）條例》自2003年修例至今，多間傳統報章及新聞媒體均有將車輛查冊資料，用作新聞報導，今次記者一如以往追查真相竟被檢控，實有辱法律之意。

記者作新聞報導時，必須確保資料真確，因此查冊車輛資料有其必要。警方以法律打擊新聞自由，嚴重影響記者運用第四權作社會監察的職責。另外，今次事件牽涉反修例運動議題，警方此舉向傳媒施壓，實有政治威嚇之嫌，在文明社會中絕不容許。

就此，本會對是次警方執法作出強烈譴責。法律其中一大主旨就是要保障包括公眾知情權在內的公眾權益，豈容濫作為政治打壓工具！

警方近日多次衝擊新聞及言論自由，本會在此承諾，一眾網絡新聞工作者定必緊守崗位，縱使面對法律的挑戰亦會繼續確保新聞真確性，為社會報道真相。

香港網絡新聞工作者聯盟
2020年11月4日

Statement : Condemn on Unreasonable Arrest of Choy Yuk-ling; No Political Suppression in Civilised Society

The Hong Kong police arrested Ms Choy Yuk-ling on 3rd November 2020 with an unreasonable “so-called regulation” for political suppression on journalists. Our association condemns that this incident undermines the press freedom and disregards the public’s right to know.

Since the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance was amended in 2003, many traditional newspaper companies and news media used the data from vehicle search service for news reports. This time, a journalist was prosecuted for investigating the truth as before, which is a shame to law.

A journalist must ensure that the information accuracy when producing a news report, so it is necessary to look for the vehicle data. The police use the law to attack press freedom, which seriously affects the duty of a reporter using its fourth estate for social surveillance. Besides, this incident involves Anti-ELAB movement. The police put pressure on the media in this incident, which indeed is suspected of political intimidation, and a civilised community would never allow.

In this regard, our association strongly condemns police enforcement. One of the main aims of the regulation is to protect the public’s right and interest, including the right to know, which cannot be abused as a tool of political suppression.

The police have repeatedly attacked press freedom recently. Our association hereby promises that all online journalists will keep their responsibilities, reporting the truth to the community. Although we are facing legal challenges, we will continue to ensure news authenticity.

The Alliance of Hong Kong Online Media Practitioners
04-11-2020