Real Hong Kong News
18 March 2022
There are concerns over the medics Chinese Central Government sent to Hong Kong to treat Covid-19 patients, as under the “emergency law”, these medics without recognised medical license in Hong Kong are allowed to practice. Several local Hong Kong medical professionals have expressed concerns as these medics’ accountability and different-from-Hong-Kong practice may harm patients’ right, including the Association of Hong Kong Nursing Staff, Hong Kong Patients’ Voice, and Dr Tony Siu-chi Ling, president of the Hong Kong Public Doctors’ Association.
A NowTV reporter asked the government officials at the 16 March Covid-19 press conference how to hold medical staff from China accountable should medical mishap happen. After the news was broadcasted, pro-China newspaper Ta Kung Pao claimed on Thursday (17 March) that the NowTV reporter’s questions triggered “public anger”, citing the online petition set up by Politihk Social Strategic (a pro-China organisation) condemning her for spreading hate against medics from China which could potentially violate the National Security Law.
At the same time, overtly pro-China former airhostess Annie, also known as Airhostess Beef Bowl (name of her restaurant), published at TVB news footage with opinions in simplified Chinese on her Youtube channel, condemning the NowTV reporter, calling her shameless Yellow (ribbon) reporter, and called for netizens to file complains to get the reporter fired.
The video attracted lots of comments supporting the Chinese Central Government and calling the reporter a Yellow-Ribbon-supporting-bent-reporter, and calling the reporter a “cold-blooded moron” – to translate just a few.
A leaked audio recording of Chan Tit Piu, Head of News and Business Information at NowTV, sparked criticisms, as he was confronted by the channel’s journalists who asked why they were not allowed to ask the questions at the government press conference. Chan said that the reporters should have understood the “standards of asking questions” and hinted that his support towards the Central Government sending medics to Hong Kong guides these standards, and asking those questions after patients are dead is better.
On 16 March, pro-China legislator Tang Fei, raised similar concern about the medics from China at the Legislative Council’s Subcommittee on Subsidiary Legislation Relating to the Prevention and Control of Disease, but was not criticised nor condemned by any pro-China media – no “public anger” was triggered either.
NowTV issued a statement on 17 March apologising for the said reporter’s questions at the government’s press conference:
“We are deeply sorry that the question about Chinese medics at yesterday’s Covid-19 press conference caused concern and discontent among citizens. The fifth-wave outbreak is still severe, and we are extremely thankful to the Central Government and China’s selfless support…
Now TV has been and always will serve Hong Kong citizens with a fair and balanced reporting. We will continue to humbly accept the citizens’ criticism.”
Chan is the former Managing Editor at TVB News, a local Hong Kong TV channel well-known for its pro-China and pro-government stance, particularly during the 2019 Anti-Extradition Bill Protests. The channel’s pro-government stance has caused it dearly in recent years as it suffered from significantly reduced viewership and revenue resulted earning warnings.
The Real Hong Kong News 