Journalists are the Public
When the world becomes too ridiculous, some boundaries that used to be black and white turn grey.
The journalists who report on court cases update the “menu” every night and list out cases for the next day in different courts scattered in whole Hong Kong. “East district”, “Sha Tin”, “Kwun Tong” are the names of different courts together with the details of the cases and the starting time of each trial.
Read the fully translated article here:
https://telegra.ph/Journalists-are-the-Public-02-26
Source: The Stand News #Nov10
#Journalists #Public #Ridiculous #ChoiYukLing #RTHK #Defendant
When the world becomes too ridiculous, some boundaries that used to be black and white turn grey.
The journalists who report on court cases update the “menu” every night and list out cases for the next day in different courts scattered in whole Hong Kong. “East district”, “Sha Tin”, “Kwun Tong” are the names of different courts together with the details of the cases and the starting time of each trial.
Read the fully translated article here:
https://telegra.ph/Journalists-are-the-Public-02-26
Source: The Stand News #Nov10
#Journalists #Public #Ridiculous #ChoiYukLing #RTHK #Defendant
The Press Card as the Evidence in Court
Last Wednesday, the trial of Hong Kong veteran reporter Ms Choi Yuk-ling commenced. Choi, who was the reporter for RTHK programme Hong Kong Connection, was charged with providing false statements in her reporting of the 721 Yuen Long attacks.
The prosecutor alleged that Choi provided false statements by selecting the option of “other traffic and transportation issues” as her reason for making a vehicle licence plate search with the online registrar. Other options available were “undergoing legal proceedings” and “vehicle trading”. The prosecutor alleged that the chosen option did not include Choi’s purpose of finding the identity of the vehicle owner for purposes of public reporting. The prosecutor insisted the interview and news reporting of the attacks is irrelevant with vehicle-related criminal offences. Absurdly, the evidence presented by the prosecution was not only a compact disc of the relevant chapter of Hong Kong Connection, but also the mobile phone and RTHK-issued press identity card, which was seized by police during their search of Choi’s residence.
When the relevant chapter of Hong Kong Connection was played in the trial, it was confirmed that the vehicle in question was clearly captured on closed-circuit video at the scene of the attacks, and that those coming out of the car were brandishing weapons. The weapons (clubs) were exactly the ones used by the white-shirt attackers in Yuen Long. When the vehicle owner was later confirmed by RTHK reporter through their contact with person-in-charge of registration company, it was revealed that the owner had relocated to the mainland.
Hundreds of public hearings in court that day were experienced news reporters and press management, while RTHK colleagues took personal leave that day to sit the trial, felt so mocked when four words of the Chapter topic, i.e. “Who Controls the Truth”, was shown in court. The defendant of this investigative report, broadcasted widely and watched by millions of people, could never have imagined that her own work was now put as an evidence to prove her offence.
After playing the video report in court, defence lawyer put forth to the court: “How could the number plate search not be related to issues concerning traffic? CCTV captured the vehicle conveying suspected weapons, while the suspect(s) used the vehicle on the road as tools to commit crime. It is evident that the defendant did not make a false statement.”
The prosecutor disagreed and prolonged discourse about definition and wording took up the rest of the afternoon. In the process, the defence lawyer presented a legislative document, which revealed that in 2003, 25% of vehicle searches logged with the registrar involved applications from press organisations, equivalent to 2800 cases. It supports the argument that the Government has always been aware that thousands of vehicle searches are made each year by the press. In the end, the defence lawyer stated that the public has the right to know how the owner used the vehicle when it was found to contain materials related to crime.
The judge finally stated that one month was required for consideration. The sentencing would occur in late April. One week after the trial, RTHK productions, including Hong Kong Connection, were pulled from air by the management. RTHK management also instructed all staff to cease participation in any competitions, and even to withdraw the applications submitted.
Press cards can be confiscated, participation in competitions can be disallowed, programmes can be pulled from air, but the soul of a journalist is not easily broken. Even RTHK discontinued Choi’s employment, she continues to execute her professional responsibilities.
Source：Standnews #Apr02
#PressCard #Evidence #Court #RTHK #ChoiYukLing
https://www.hkcnews.com/article/39909/%E8%94%A1%E7%8E%89%E7%8E%B2-39957/%E8%A8%98%E8%80%85%E8%AD%89%E4%BD%9C%E7%82%BA%E5%91%88%E5%A0%82%E8%AD%89%E7%89%A9
Last Wednesday, the trial of Hong Kong veteran reporter Ms Choi Yuk-ling commenced. Choi, who was the reporter for RTHK programme Hong Kong Connection, was charged with providing false statements in her reporting of the 721 Yuen Long attacks.
The prosecutor alleged that Choi provided false statements by selecting the option of “other traffic and transportation issues” as her reason for making a vehicle licence plate search with the online registrar. Other options available were “undergoing legal proceedings” and “vehicle trading”. The prosecutor alleged that the chosen option did not include Choi’s purpose of finding the identity of the vehicle owner for purposes of public reporting. The prosecutor insisted the interview and news reporting of the attacks is irrelevant with vehicle-related criminal offences. Absurdly, the evidence presented by the prosecution was not only a compact disc of the relevant chapter of Hong Kong Connection, but also the mobile phone and RTHK-issued press identity card, which was seized by police during their search of Choi’s residence.
When the relevant chapter of Hong Kong Connection was played in the trial, it was confirmed that the vehicle in question was clearly captured on closed-circuit video at the scene of the attacks, and that those coming out of the car were brandishing weapons. The weapons (clubs) were exactly the ones used by the white-shirt attackers in Yuen Long. When the vehicle owner was later confirmed by RTHK reporter through their contact with person-in-charge of registration company, it was revealed that the owner had relocated to the mainland.
Hundreds of public hearings in court that day were experienced news reporters and press management, while RTHK colleagues took personal leave that day to sit the trial, felt so mocked when four words of the Chapter topic, i.e. “Who Controls the Truth”, was shown in court. The defendant of this investigative report, broadcasted widely and watched by millions of people, could never have imagined that her own work was now put as an evidence to prove her offence.
After playing the video report in court, defence lawyer put forth to the court: “How could the number plate search not be related to issues concerning traffic? CCTV captured the vehicle conveying suspected weapons, while the suspect(s) used the vehicle on the road as tools to commit crime. It is evident that the defendant did not make a false statement.”
The prosecutor disagreed and prolonged discourse about definition and wording took up the rest of the afternoon. In the process, the defence lawyer presented a legislative document, which revealed that in 2003, 25% of vehicle searches logged with the registrar involved applications from press organisations, equivalent to 2800 cases. It supports the argument that the Government has always been aware that thousands of vehicle searches are made each year by the press. In the end, the defence lawyer stated that the public has the right to know how the owner used the vehicle when it was found to contain materials related to crime.
The judge finally stated that one month was required for consideration. The sentencing would occur in late April. One week after the trial, RTHK productions, including Hong Kong Connection, were pulled from air by the management. RTHK management also instructed all staff to cease participation in any competitions, and even to withdraw the applications submitted.
Press cards can be confiscated, participation in competitions can be disallowed, programmes can be pulled from air, but the soul of a journalist is not easily broken. Even RTHK discontinued Choi’s employment, she continues to execute her professional responsibilities.
Source：Standnews #Apr02
#PressCard #Evidence #Court #RTHK #ChoiYukLing
https://www.hkcnews.com/article/39909/%E8%94%A1%E7%8E%89%E7%8E%B2-39957/%E8%A8%98%E8%80%85%E8%AD%89%E4%BD%9C%E7%82%BA%E5%91%88%E5%A0%82%E8%AD%89%E7%89%A9