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Kristen Cheung

Hong Kong’s security chief has warned he will take down anyone who endangers national security, while also slamming an embattled press group for lacking credibility ahead of an already delayed leadership election.
Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung said on Friday that the Hong Kong Journalists Association (HKJA) was “not a statutory organisation” and that candidates for its executive committee reportedly included no representatives from mainstream local media outlets, undermining its legitimacy.
“All the candidates this time are reportedly from foreign media, so-called free media, or online media. There is not a single person from Hong Kong’s mainstream media,” he said. “How can it call itself the Hong Kong Journalists Association?”
He also accused the group of running a “black box” election, saying it had neither published the names of candidates nor disclosed the final list of those elected.
Tang said the association developed a “tainted record” during the 2019 anti-government protests, accusing it of having “shielded rioters”, adopting a biased stance and counting among its ranks members who repeatedly broke the law.

He also accused the group of misleading the public over the national security trial of former media boss Jimmy Lai Chee-ying by claiming it was a press freedom issue, when judges had ruled Lai was guilty of colluding with foreign forces and that the case had “nothing to do with press freedom”.
“Regardless of what name or title you use, if you want to engage in acts that endanger national security, collude with external forces, or subvert state power, I will definitely nail you. Face the consequences,” he said.
Tang further cautioned against organisations abusing trade union names to pursue agendas unrelated to labour rights, saying authorities would investigate and prosecute them in accordance with the law.
The HKJA originally planned to elect a new executive committee in mid-June but extended the incumbent committee’s term by three months after failing to attract enough candidates during the nomination period.
The association has since secured the minimum five candidates required and plans to hold the election on August 8.
The South China Morning Post has contacted the HKJA for comment.
Selina Cheng Kar-yue, chairwoman of the association, said the HKJA was operating under an interim board tasked solely with conducting the election and she was therefore unable to issue an official statement.
She added that the association held annual elections as required by union law but had stopped publicly releasing election information because of “intense harassment campaigns” targeting the board in recent years.
“We have always submitted our board information to the union registry as the law requires,” she said.
Cheng also pointed to the government’s recent amendment to the Trade Unions Ordinance, which allows unions to admit individuals not usually living in Hong Kong, arguing that it reflected the city’s identity as an international hub open to journalists from around the world.
“HKJA welcomes the participation of any journalist in Hong Kong, and we advocate for their rights and protection, including those working in international media,” she said.
“I echo the secretary for security’s call to all mainstream media employers to encourage, and not prevent, their journalists from joining our union.”


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Security minister also slams embattled Hong Kong Journalists Association for lacking credibility ahead of delayed leadership election


Security minister also slams embattled Hong Kong Journalists Association for lacking credibility ahead of delayed leadership election.


Endanger Hong Kong’s national security and I’ll take you down, Chris Tang warns

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Security minister also slams embattled Hong Kong Journalists Association for lacking credibility ahead of delayed leadership election

Security minister also slams embattled Hong Kong Journalists Association for lacking credibility ahead of delayed leadership election