SOPA Statement following meeting with Chief Secretary Matthew Cheung/「亞洲出版業協會要求政府撤回逃犯條例收訂草案」

(Please scroll below for Chinese)

 

The Society of Publishers in Asia (SOPA) met with Hong Kong’s Chief Secretary for Administration, Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, this afternoon to discuss the government’s extradition bill which, if passed, would allow people accused of crimes to be sent from the city for trial in mainland China, Taiwan and other parts of the world.

During a frank and constructive exchange, SOPA representatives raised their concerns about the bill, especially its potential impact on journalists and publishers.  They urged the government to withdraw the bill, allowing time for a full public consultation. This was all the more important in the light of recent mass protests and clashes between demonstrators and the police, SOPA’s representatives said.

Mr Cheung clarified the government’s position.  He said there was no secret motive behind the introduction of the bill.  The Chief Secretary stated that the government always has Hong Kong’s best interests at heart and urged the community to engage in rational discussion of the extradition issue.

SOPA also expressed their concern about various journalists being injured or threatened by the Police in recent protests, and urged the government to take all measures to protect journalists when they are doing their jobs.  SOPA will continue to monitor events relating to the extradition bill carefully.

 

2019年6月14日，亞洲出版業協會今天下午與政務司司長張建宗會面，討論特區政府就逃犯條例建議的修訂草案。該法案，一旦通過，可讓香港政府把疑犯遞交出境送往中國大陸及其他國家受審。

亞洲出版業協會代表在會上清楚表明立場，提出多項建議，要求政府撤回草案，並展開全面公眾諮詢。協會代表認為，在近期大型示威及警民衝突後，政府不應繼續硬推備受爭議的法案。

張建宗司長在會上澄清政府立場，他表示法案背後沒有秘密任務。他強調政府以香港利益為重，希望市民能參與理性討論。

亞洲出版業會另外就新聞從業員在採訪最近的示威集會時被警方所傷及侮辱，表示極度關注，並要求香港政府確保新聞從業員在採訪時的安全。

亞洲出版業協會將繼續密切監察逃犯條例收訂法案的發展。