Chinese 'assault' concerns spread（在线收听）

A senior pro-China figure in Hong Kong has said he will convey concerns about alleged police brutality against Hong Kong journalists to Beijing.

Convenor of the Executive Council Leung Chun-ying's promise echoed the concerns of several pro-China figures last week.

They were reacting to Chinese police treatment of three Hong Kong reporters who said they were punched, kicked and tied up.

Journalists led a march in Hong Kong demanding an apology （道歉）and investigation.

Last week, several political figures known for defending China's policies expressed concern, and the pro-communist Ta Kung Pao newspaper carried an editorial decrying（责难） what it described as an attack on press freedom.

"The pro-Beijing camp knows that politically this looks terrible," FCC president Tom Mitchell said.

"I think that shows the real power of public opinion in Hong Kong - it can force the pro-Beijing parties and the Hong Kong government officials to say that this was wrong, a line has been crossed," he said.

About 700 protesters, including journalists, politicians and residents, marched on the Hong Kong office of the Chinese government carrying placards saying "reporting the news is not crime".

Xinjiang stress

The assaults - and a three-hour detention - took place during a protest in Urumqi in western China's Xinjiang province on 4 September.

At the time, thousands of Han Chinese were protesting over a spate of stabbings with syringes blamed on attackers from the region's Uighur Muslims.

Riot police used tear gas to quell the protests, which came amid heightened tensions between Han Chinese and Uighurs.

Footage（影片） of the rough treatment endured by the journalists shocked officials and the general public in Hong Kong, reports the BBC's Vaudine England.

Simmering ethnic tensions have erupted into violence in Urumqi

In a subsequent news conference, a senior Xinjiang official Hou Hanmin expressed regret for the journalists' treatment - but blamed them for stirring unrest.

She also accused the reporters - TVB senior reporter Lam Tsz-ho, his cameraman Lau Wing-chuen and Now TV cameraman Lam Chun-wai - of working without permits.

These comments further inflamed Hong Kong feelings. The journalists' bosses also clarified that the three did all carry proper permits.

'Over the line'

Sunday's protest was called by the Hong Kong Journalists' Association (HKJA) and the Foreign Correspondents' Club (FCC) and was backed by several news outlets in the city.

"This time the authorities are over the line," HKJA chairwoman Mak Yin-ting told the gathering.

Democrat politician Lee Cheuk-yan said he believed Chinese security services wanted to intimidate the usually feisty Hong Kong press pack.

"I think they are starting to squeeze the Hong Kong press and to harass Hong Kong reporters so in the future they will be more worried about reporting inside China," he said.

Hong Kong is guaranteed press freedom under the international treaty which transferred the former British colony to Chinese sovereignty. (本文由在线英语听力室整理编辑)