Cops in row on intern arrest

Cops in row on intern arrest

The Hong Kong Journalists Association said police violated (違反) their own rules when they arrested a television intern (實習生) as police broke up (note 1) crowds during the July 1 march.

An intern from New Tang Dynasty Television was held (拘禁) at Friday's march when she was allegedly unable to show her press ID. She was held overnight and released on police bail. Association chairwoman Mak Yin-ting said that although the intern, who was covering (報導) the protests, did not have a press ID at the time, the station later supplied supporting documents.

"I can't see (note 2) the reason for the arrest. We understand that journalists don't have the privilege (特權) in doing whatever they want to do," Mak said.

"But according to police general procedures, cameramen and photographers have to be given a vantage position (note 3) to cover events."So barring the reporter violates not just freedom of the press (新聞自由) but also their own internal guidelines (內部指引)."

Police arrested 231 people and used pepper spray (糊椒噴霧) to disperse (驅散) demonstrators after the march. Headquartered in New York City, New Tang Dynasty Television was founded in 2001.

A police spokeswoman said last night all those arrested were protesters who were sitting and unwilling to leave. "One of the arrested persons claimed herself to be a reporter. All the protesters, including this person, have been released. The police respect the public's freedom of speech and assembly and also press freedom. We arrested them for obstruction in a public area and unlawful assembly (非法集會)."

Mak was speaking as she unveiled (公布) the HKJA's annual report for 2011 entitled "Two Systems Compromised: Free Expression Under Threat (note 4) in Hong Kong."

From good to better English:

(note 1) break up=驅散。Break=弄壞。Break a promise=違反諾言，食言。Break the law 違法，犯法。Break ground=破土(動工) 。Break all track records=打破徑賽的記錄。Victor’s health broke after years of hardship=多年的困苦生活使Victor的身體垮了。

(note 2) I can’t see=I don’t understand (我不明白)。I see you=我明白你的意思。 Well, I'll see what I can do (Jo Jo told her students)= 好吧，我想想辦法看 (Jo Jo告訴他的學生)。have seen better days=曾經過過好日子

(note 3) a vantage position=一個有利的位置。Vantage=優勢。vantage ground= 優越地位。vantage point=有利位置

(note 4) under threat=受到威脅。under a tree=在樹下。 Victor studied at Cambridge University under Dr. Joseph Chan=在劍橋念書時Victor在陳文博士指導下做研究。under medical treatment=在治療中。under the mask of friendship=借友誼為名。The ship went under=船下沈了。
Victor’s View: Summer newspaper, TV and radio interns usually don’t possess press ID cards. That has been in practice for years. The police should treat interns as full-time journalists so that students can learn to become responsible reporters.

(Victor Fung Keung, director of HK Baptist University’s M.A. in international journalism program, has published 3 books on English-enhancement and plans to write 7 more by the end of 2012. Write to him: deanfungenglish@gmail.com)