A national flag-raising ceremony marks the official inauguration of the Office for Safeguarding National Security of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong SAR on July 8, 2020, as the five-star red flag flies high outside the newly unveiled headquarters. Photo: VCG

The Office for Safeguarding National Security of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) announced on Saturday that in accordance with the National Security Law for Hong Kong, the office has recently summoned executives and journalists from several foreign news organizations based in the city for talks, regarding the false information, smear and hypes up related to the fire of Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po and the Legislative Council election.

According to the office, in the aftermath of the Wang Fuk Court fire, authorities and communities across the mainland and Hong Kong, from the central government to local residents, worked together on disaster response and relief. The international community also expressed sympathy and concern, and media outlets closely followed developments and reported on the rescue efforts.

However, certain foreign media outlets "ignored facts, spread false information, distorted and smeared the government's relief and follow-up work, attacked and interfered with the Legislative Council election, and sought to incite social division." Such reporting, the office said, undermined Hong Kong's hard-won solidarity in the face of adversity, disregarded the suffering of victims, hurt the feelings of Hong Kong residents, and misled the international community. The office expressed serious concern about that. 

The office stressed that "freedom of the press" coexists with the obligation to obey the law, and that no media outlet may invoke press freedom to interfere in China's internal affairs and Hong Kong-related matters. All foreign media representatives in Hong Kong must comply with the Basic Law, the National Security Law for Hong Kong, and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, as well as regulations governing news reporting in the HKSAR.

The office underscored that journalists must strictly adhere to professional ethics, uphold the principles of truthful, accurate, objective, and fair reporting, and refrain from fabricating or spreading false information.

It is hoped that foreign correspondents in Hong Kong will uphold professionalism, report objectively and fairly, observe relevant laws, cherish themselves and act accordingly, avoid actions that may cross legal red lines, the office stressed. 

As the spokesperson of the office stated, attempts by anti-China destabilizing forces to "use disasters to disrupt Hong Kong" will not be tolerated — warning that "don't say we didn't warn you." The office said it will continue to strictly enforce the law and closely monitor relevant media coverage.

In its statement, the office also emphasized that it supports the HKSAR government in its long-standing commitment to respecting and safeguarding the lawful rights of foreign journalists to conduct reporting activities in Hong Kong in accordance with the law and will continue to provide necessary facilitation and assistance.

Global Times