立法會十一題：警方致力便利傳媒的採訪工作

[:zh]以下是今日（五月四日）在立法會會議上謝偉銓議員的提問和保安局局長黎棟國的書面答覆︰

問題：
　　
近年，遊行、示威、集會等大型公眾活動進行期間，往往有大批傳媒工作者在場進行採訪。警方除了要處理個別參與活動人士的激烈行為所引致的混亂和衝突場面外，還要顧及在場人士（包括傳媒工作者）的安全。就此，政府可否告知本會：

（一）警方有否制訂程序、指引或措施（統稱「機制」），以識別和核實在大型公眾活動期間進行採訪的傳媒工作者的身分；若否，原因為何，以及警方會否制訂有關機制；若有，機制的具體內容為何，以及警方會否檢視該機制，並在檢視的過程中諮詢相關警務人員協會的意見；若警方不會檢視該機制，原因為何；

（二）有否研究在過往的大型公眾活動中，警方在識別和核實在場人士是否傳媒工作者時所遇到的困難；若有，研究結果及相關的解決方法為何；

（三）鑑於近年網上媒體大量湧現，加上資訊科技迅速發展令智能電話具備高階攝錄功能，以致任何人手持智能電話都可以進行採訪，警方現時在大型公眾活動進行期間，如何識別和核實在場人士是否傳媒工作者；警方有否制訂程序，配合傳媒工作者進行採訪；若有，程序的詳情為何；若否，原因為何，以及會否制訂有關的程序；

（四）就協助傳媒工作者在大型公眾活動期間進行採訪而言，政府新聞處有否任何角色；若有，詳情為何，以及當局會否加強政府新聞處的角色；若沒有角色，原因為何，以及當局會否訂明政府新聞處應有的角色；及

（五）會否考慮（i）設立傳媒機構登記制度、（ii）向受聘於已登記傳媒機構的傳媒工作者發出採訪證，以及（iii）規定只有可出示採訪證的傳媒工作者才獲准在大型公眾活動期間進行採訪，讓執法人員較容易識別在場人士是否傳媒工作者，並配合傳媒工作者進行採訪工作？

答覆：

主席：

　就謝偉銓議員的提問，政府現綜合回覆如下：

警方一直尊重新聞自由和傳媒採訪的權利，亦完全明白配合傳媒採訪工作及與傳媒保持有效溝通和合作的重要性。因此，警方一直致力在可行範圍內採取措施，便利傳媒的採訪工作。

在處理公眾活動時，警方會因應個別活動的目的、性質、參與人數、過往經驗及最新形勢等作出全面風險評估，以部署人手及制訂行動計劃和應變方案。警方並會根據當時情況靈活調配人手及採取人群管理措施，以確保公共安全和公共秩序。

警方已制訂相關指引，供人員在公眾活動或其他警方行動期間，透過傳媒機構或組織發出的證件或文件，識別和核實傳媒工作者的身分。傳媒工作者在採訪公眾活動期間，亦應隨身帶備記者證件或公司證明文件，同時可穿上易於識別的服飾及佩戴臂章，以便現場警務人員識別。警方會不時檢視有關指引，並會在過程中考慮前線警務人員的意見。

警方一直在不影響行動的前提下，盡可能協助傳媒的採訪工作。一般而言，除非設立採訪區能為傳媒提供較佳的拍攝位置，否則警方原則上不會在公眾地方設立採訪區，傳媒應如市民一般，可自由進出公眾地方，而傳媒亦可自由進出在上述情況下設立的採訪區。如警方因行動或調查需要在罪案、交通意外或緊急事故等現場設立封鎖區，警方會考慮在可行的情況下設立採訪區，便利傳媒的採訪工作。警方呼籲傳媒工作者在採訪公眾活動或其他事件期間，應以自身安全為上，並聽從現場警務人員的指示。

為進一步加強與傳媒的溝通和合作，警方已在二○一五年十二月正式成立傳媒聯絡隊。警方會在有需要時調派傳媒聯絡隊到公眾活動或其他警方行動的現場，為在場採訪的傳媒工作者提供便利和協助。派駐警務處警察公共關係科的政府新聞處新聞主任，亦會提供支援及協助處理傳媒查詢。在現場採訪的傳媒工作者如有需要，可向傳媒聯絡隊求助，或與２４小時運作的警察公共關係科新聞室聯絡。

　警方會繼續在互相尊重和體諒的基礎上與傳媒保持良好的溝通和合作關係，並提供所需協助。

完

２０１６年５月４日（星期三）
香港時間１６時２０分[:en]Following is a question by the Hon Tony Tse and a written reply by the Secretary for Security, Mr Lai Tung-kwok, in the Legislative Council today (May 4):

Question:

In recent years, during large-scale public events such as processions, demonstrations, assemblies, etc., there have often been a large number of media personnel covering news at the scene. Apart from handling chaos and confrontations arising from the radical behaviour of individual participants of the events, the Police have to take care of the safety of the people, including the media personnel, present at the scene. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

whether the Police have formulated a procedure, guidelines or measures (collectively referred to as “the mechanism”) to identify and verify the identities of the media personnel covering news during large-scale public events; if they have not, of the reasons for that, and whether the Police will formulate such a mechanism; if they have, the specific contents of the mechanism, and whether the Police will review the mechanism and consult the police staff associations concerned during the review; if the Police will not review the mechanism, of the reasons for that;

whether it has conducted any study on the difficulties encountered, in the past large-scale public events, by the Police in identifying and verifying whether the persons at the scene were media personnel; if it has, of the study outcome and the relevant solutions;

as a large number of online media have emerged in recent years, coupled with the fact that smartphones are equipped with advanced video-recording functions due to the rapid development of information technology, resulting in anyone holding a smartphone in hand being able to cover news, how the Police currently identify and verify whether the persons at the scene are media personnel during large-scale public events; whether the Police have formulated a procedure to complement media personnel’s news coverage; if they have, of the details of the procedure; if not, the reasons for that, and whether they will formulate such a procedure;

whether the Information Services Department (ISD) has a role in assisting media personnel in covering news during large-scale public events; if ISD does, of the details, and whether the authorities will strengthen the role of ISD; if ISD does not, the reasons for that, and whether the authorities will specify the role to be assumed by ISD; and

whether it will consider (i) establishing a registration system for media organisations, (ii) issuing press cards to those media personnel employed by registered media organisations, and (iii) stipulating that only those media personnel who can produce press cards are allowed to cover news during large-scale public events, so as to make it easier for law enforcement officers to identify whether the persons at the scene are media personnel and complement the news coverage by media personnel?

Reply:

President,

The Government’s consolidated reply to the Hon Tse’s question is as follows:

The Police all along respect press freedom and the media’s right of reporting. The Police also fully recognise the importance of facilitating media reporting and maintaining effective communications and co-operation with the media. Therefore, the Police have been taking measures to facilitate media reporting as far as practicable.

In handling public order events, the Police will conduct holistic risk assessment based on the objectives, nature, number of participants, past experience and the latest situation etc. of individual events for manpower deployment and formulation of operational plans and contingencies. The Police will also deploy manpower flexibly and implement crowd management measures in light of the prevailing circumstances to ensure public safety and public order.

The Police have formulated relevant guidelines for officers to identify and verify the identity of media practitioners during public order events or other police operations with the proof of identity or documents issued by media organisations or associations. While covering public order events, media practitioners should bring along the proof of identity of reporters or testimonials issued by their companies and can wear easily recognisable clothing and armbands so that police officers at scene can easily recognise them. The Police will examine relevant guidelines from time to time and will consider the opinion of frontline police officers in the process.

On the condition of not affecting operations, the Police have all along been assisting in media reporting as far as possible. Generally speaking, unless designating a press area will provide a vantage point for the media to cover the events, in principle the Police will not designate a press area in public place, where the media like other members of the public are allowed free access. If a designated press area is set up under the above-mentioned circumstances, the media are still free to move in and out of that press area. If a police cordon is set up for operational or investigative purpose at a scene of crime, traffic accident or emergency incident etc, the Police will consider setting up a designated press area where practicable to facilitate media reporting. The Police appeal to media practitioners to put their own personal safety first and comply with the instructions of police officers at scene while covering public order events or other incidents.

To further enhance the communications and co-operation with the media, the Police have officially established the Force Media Liaison Cadre in December 2015. When necessary, the Police will deploy Cadre members to the scene of public order events or other police operations to provide facilitation and assistance to media practitioners covering the events at scene. Information officers of the Information Services Department staffed in the Police Public Relations Branch (PPRB) of the Hong Kong Police Force will also provide support and assist in handling media enquiries. If necessary, media practitioners conducting reporting at scene can seek assistance from the Force Media Liaison Cadre or liaise with the PPRB Newsroom which operates 24 hours round-the-clock.

On the basis of mutual respect and understanding, the Police will continue to maintain close communications and co-operation with the media and provide necessary assistance.

Ends/Wednesday, May 4, 2016
Issued at HKT 16:27[:]