Refinitiv removes Reuters story on Hong Kong protests from screens in China

FILE PHOTO: Men in white t-shirts and face masks attack anti-extradition bill demonstrators and reporters at a train station in Hong Kong, China, July 21, 2019, in this still image obtained from a social media live video. Courtesy of Stand News/Social Media via REUTERS

BEIJING (Reuters) - Under pressure from Chinese regulators, financial information provider Refinitiv has removed from its Eikon terminals in China a Reuters story detailing how an official with Beijing's Liaison Office in Hong Kong had urged residents of a rural area to drive away anti-government protesters days before a violent clash nearby, according to Eikon users and a person with knowledge of Refinitiv's action.

The story, which was published late last week, was not visible on the Eikon terminal's scrolling news feed in China on Friday. Eikon users outside China said they could still see the story. Reuters was unable to determine precisely when the story had been removed from Eikon’s scrolling news feed for clients in China or whether other stories had been blocked.