CHINA: A former Hong Kong newspaper editor, known for critical reporting, is stabbed. The assault follows mass protests denouncing intrusions on press freedom

Record ID: 354141

  • Title: CHINA: A former Hong Kong newspaper editor, known for critical reporting, is stabbed. The assault follows mass protests denouncing intrusions on press freedom
  • Date: 26th February 2014
  • Summary: POOL OF BLOOD BEHIND CAR MEDIA GATHERED NEAR CAR/OFFICER KNEELING AT POOL OF BLOOD OFFICER TAKING BLOOD SAMPLE
  • Embargoed: 13th March 2014 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Hong Kong, China
  • City:
  • Country: Hong Kong
  • Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement
  • Reuters ID: LVA5FKWHQZPCDKA4XE9HA432090Z
  • Story Text: A former chief editor of a major Hong Kong newspaper, known for its critical reporting, was injured in a frenzied attack on Wednesday (February 26).
    The assault is likely to fuel concern among journalists, over what many see as an erosion of media freedoms.
    Kevin Lau, former chief editor of the Ming Pao daily, was ambushed as he got out of his car on Wednesday morning.
    A man in a helmet hacked Lau several times on the back, with what authorities believe was a meat clever.
    The assailant then rode off on a motorcycle with an accomplice.
    Lau managed to alert police and was rushed to hospital, where he remains in a critical condition.
    A small pool of blood remained at the scene late on Wednesday.

    "Suddenly, two suspects, they drove, arrived, and parked the motorcycle in front of the private car. One of them alighted from the motorcycle, and used a chopper and attacked the victim. As a result the victim suffer from three cut wounds. One at his back and two at his legs," Superintendent Simon Kwan told reporters.
    Police said no one had been arrested over the attack and they had no clues as to who was responsible.
    Following surgery, Lau's relatives visited him in the intensive care unit late on Wednesday afternoon.
    Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying said he knew Lau in a personal capacity and labelled the attack "savage".

    "Hong Kong is also a law-abiding city. And that's why we strongly condemn this savage act on Mr. Kevin Lau this morning," Leung said.
    Lau remained in critical condition after the surgery, said the chief surgeon Tang Chong-ngai, who described Lau's most serious wound.

    "One of them (back wounds) is about 16cm long. The wound is very deep, it slashed all his muscles and entered into his left chest cavity. Perhaps you could say he is fortunate in a way, because although his muscles are all injured, his left lung tissues are intact, and his main blood vessels are not wounded either," Tang said.
    Lau was recently dismissed as chief editor at the Ming Pao daily, and replaced by a Malaysian Chinese journalist with suspected pro-Beijing leanings.
    Lau's replacement will take up his duties this week.
    The shock dismissal sparked a revolt in the Ming Pao newsroom, by journalists who suggested the paper's editorial independence might be undermined.
    Ronald Chiu, the chairman of Hong Kong News Executives Association, said it was too early to tell if the attack was directly related to press freedom, but said that the violence cannot be tolerated.

    "I think it's something we cannot accept in our community. I mean, whatever reason Mr. Lau's been attacked, this such violence cannot be tolerated and cannot be accepted by our standard, our values. I don't think this is something we want to see in our community," Chiu said.
    The attack took place just days after six thousand journalists marched to Hong Kong's government headquarters, demanding the city's leaders uphold press freedom against what they see as intrusions from mainland China.
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