May 15
Leung Tin-wai, Surprise Weekly, ATTACKED
Assailants severed the left forearm of Leung, a veteran Hong Kong journalist, in an attack at his office two days before the scheduled debut of his new tabloid newspaper, Surprise Weekly. Two unidentified men entered Leung's office and asked to see him. Leung led them into a conference room and shut the door behind him. Shortly afterwards, staff members heard Leung cry for help. Upon opening the conference room door, a journalist with the paper was knifed as the two assailants ran out and exited the building. Leung was immediately taken to a local hospital where doctors reattached his arm. Two 18-inch knives, apparently used in the attack, were later found on the building's first floor. Leung had recently assumed publishing duties at Surprise Weekly, which faces fierce competition for readership. Local journalists told CPJ that the attack may have been organized by competitors or distributors since newspaper distribution in Hong Kong is closely connected with organized crime groups. In a letter to Hong Kong's Gov. Christopher Patten, CPJ urged the colony's authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into the attack.

For more information contact asiaweb@cpj.org