Hong Kong: CFWIJ condemns the persistent legal harassment against Bao Choy

April 23, 2021- Award-winning freelance producer Bao Choy was convicted on April 22, by a Hong Kong court for submitting false statements to obtain public records. The journalist had obtained the data to determine the police handling of riots against pro-democracy demonstrations and media in July 2019. Bao was charged for violating the city’s Road Traffic Ordinance and was fined 770$. CFWIJ condemns judicial harassment against the journalist. To search for material is right of an investigative journalist and Bao did not use vehicle database information for personal gains. The investigations were used in a documentary that informed the public of how some powerful people chose not to respond in a crisis.

 Bao, a 37 years old award-winning journalist was arrested last year. The charge under which she is convicted carries six-month prison time. Bao used the car database information for her award-winning documentary “Hong Kong Connection: 7.21 Who Owns the Truth”. Bao searched the database to identify the cars that reportedly carried the weapons for rioters on July 21, 2020, inside Yuen Long local train station, in northern Hong Kong. According to the court verdict, prosecutors argued that Bao used the false statement to obtain public records that should only be used for transport-related matters and not for reporting. The journalist has pleaded not guilty. The verdict against Bao has highlighted the worsening press freedom situation in Hong Kong.

On April 22, supporters were gathered outside the West Kowloon’s magistrate court. They held placards in hands, that read “Journalism is not a crime” and “Without fear or favour”. Bao’s documentary “7.21 Who Owns the Truth” won Hong Kong’s Kam Yiu-yu award” on Wednesday. 

The Coalition In Journalism condemns the judicial harassment against Bao Choy. We believe that she did a remarkable job in investigating the crisis that erupted on July 21 inside a local train station in northern Hong Kong. Journalists use public sources and sometimes they know that the particular information won’t be provided through official means so they try through other means. The purpose of Bao was to gather that necessary information and present it to the public in her documentary. The journalist should not be questioned because of her efforts to keep the public informed about the real perpetrators and conspirators.