Amid all the craziness and chaos that Hong Kong has seen this Monday, a journalist has been hit in the head with a canister of tear gas fired by police.
Photos and videos have circulated on Twitter showing the reporter, dressed in a bright reflective vest, lying on the street outside the Sham Shui Po police station, looking dazed and with blood coming out of a wound on his forehead.
A journalist was hit in his left eye by a tear gas canister after officers fired several rounds into Sham Shui Po residents. Bleeding badly on his left eye @SCMPNews pic.twitter.com/C9u2s9i7PS
— Phila Siu (Bobby) (@phila_siu) August 5, 2019
From a fellow reporter in Shum Shui Po – a reporter was shot in the face by what is believed to be a teargas round. Another Ta Kung Pao reporter was arrested on site. #antiELAB #aug5strike pic.twitter.com/JcKLxqjKlf
— Lok. (@sumlokkei) August 5, 2019
.@inmediahk reports that this reporter from 采風(documentary film org Visible Record) was hit by a tear gas canister in Shum Shui Po #antielab #hongkongprotests #pressfreedom pic.twitter.com/MHQJ6QXlsO
— Vivienne Chow (@VivienneChow) August 5, 2019
Throughout the nine weeks of protests that have rocked Hong Kong, police have been criticized for their heavy use of tear gas and have even been accused of targeting reporters. Back in June, journalists turned up to one police press conference wearing helmets and gas masks.
To stay safe, many journalists continue to wear the same gear when going out to report on the protests.
Be careful everybody. I just got hit straight in the face by some projectile fired by the police. Luckily the mask took the pressure off it and it just smashed the mask. Maybe tear gas? #HongKong pic.twitter.com/maaDJpAc5U
— Stephen McDonell (@StephenMcDonell) August 5, 2019
At around the same time and in the same area, a journalist for the pro-Beijing Ta Kung Pao newspaper was also arrested by police for allegedly assaulting an officer and was rushed into the police station as other reporters followed, shouting for an explanation.
The reporter was released 15 minutes later, telling his colleagues that the incident was just a misunderstanding.
Stand News captured the moment the Ta Kung Pao journalist was carried into Sham Shui Po police station shortly before 10pm.https://t.co/kmLJLFCnSX #HongKong #antiELAB pic.twitter.com/2VHDgBFk3z
— Hong Kong Free Press (@HongKongFP) August 5, 2019
