香港保安局长鄧炳強公开批评香港记者协会即将举行的改选，称其为"无认受性、无公信力"的团体[1]。鄧炳強警告，记协"无论使用什么名称或幌子，若从事危害国家安全、勾结外部势力及颠覆国家政权的行为，须后果自负"[1]。
鄧炳強指出，参选人"全部来自外媒、自由媒体、网媒，没有香港主流媒体人士"[1]，并批评记协未公布参选人名单属于"黑箱作业"[1]。他称记协"劣跡斑斑"，包括"2019年黑暴期间为暴徒护航，在黎智英案中也误导公众"[1]。
港区国安法于2020年中实施后，支持反送中运动的党派及团体先后解散，记协是少数至今仍然运作的相关团体[1]。
Hong Kong's Secretary for Security Tang Ping-keung publicly criticized the Hong Kong Journalists Association ahead of its upcoming leadership election, declaring the organization to lack legitimacy and credibility. [1] Tang warned that any entity engaging in activities threatening national security, colluding with external forces, or attempting to subvert state power would face consequences, regardless of the name or pretext used. [1]
Tang alleged that candidates for the association's election came exclusively from foreign media, independent outlets, and online news platforms, with no representation from Hong Kong's mainstream media organizations. [1] He also condemned the association's failure to publicly disclose the list of candidates, characterizing this as secretive operations. [1] Tang cited the association's track record as problematic, contending it had sheltered rioters during the 2019 anti-extradition movement and misled the public in coverage of media tycoon Jimmy Lai's case. [1]
The Journalists Association remains one of few organizations that previously supported the anti-extradition movement still operating today, following the implementation of Hong Kong's National Security Law in mid-2020, after which various pro-protest political parties and groups subsequently disbanded. [1]