Governor refuses apology to female reporter over spat
- Source: Global Times
- [08:13 March 12 2010]
- Comments
By Deng Jingyin
Governor Li Hongzhong of Hubei Province described his verbal attack against a female reporter as a "misunderstanding" as hundreds of Internet users expressed criticism against him.
In response to calls for him to apologize for snapping at the reporter and for confiscating her digital recorder, the governor said an apology is not necessary
"The incident does not have to involve an apology," Li told the New Express, a Guangzhou-based newspaper. "We do not need an apology for some misunderstanding."
Li became irate at the reporter, who asked him about last year's widely publicized trial involving a local official's death in Hubei. A female worker at a local entertainment venue stabbed and killed the official who requested sexual services from her.
Li called the reporter's question "senseless" and proceeded to question her motivation and her affiliation.
Li was in a hotel meeting room where he had wrapped up a session that was part of the ongoing two sessions events in Beijing.
He loudly asked the woman to identify her company as other reporters looked on in amazement.
"She wasn't straightforward about which media outlet she was from. She said she was from the People's Daily, but the fact is she is from the Beijing Times. It is not good," Li told the New Express.
The Beijing Times is affiliated to the People's Daily.
"We thought she might not be a reporter, so we took away her recorder to check," he said.
In response, Li allegedly snapped her tape recorder and one of his followers grabbed the identification card around her neck and inspected it.
Reporters must display their credentials before gaining access to all events including the room where Li was speaking with reporters.
In response to the Internet comments, Li said the reporter is now free to talk to him if she is unhappy about the incident. He said there is no need to raise the incident all over the Internet.
As of Thursday, more than 1,200 comments about Li's explanation appeared on a sohu.com forum.
"Even if her question was not a good one, he has no right to take away her recorder," said a reporter who witnessed the incident, but declined to be named.
