Hong Kong Case Law: Decisions & Judgments | LexChat

Hong Kong Case Law

Reynolds/public interest defence

  • 10 Dec 2021

    WONG SHING v. CHEUNG HING

    Citation
    [2021] HKDC 1438
    Court
    District Court
    Case number
    DCCJ1567/2018

    The Statement, read in its context, was defamatory in imputing that the plaintiff taught the School's tradition without permission and was unfit to teach; the defendant proved the substantial truth of the factual imputations (teaching without permission and being expelled) and established fair comment in relation to opinion imputations based on matters of public interest and honest belief; Reynolds-type defence was not available as it was not pleaded; therefore publication was not unlawful and the plaintiff's claim is dismissed with costs order nisi in favour of the defendant.

  • 17 Nov 2015

    PUI KWAN KAY v. MING PAO HOLDINGS LTD AND OTHERS

    Citation
    PUI KWAN KAY v. MING PAO HOLDINGS LTD AND OTHERS
    Court
    Court of Appeal
    Case number
    CACV201/2013

    The Court of Appeal allowed the defendants' appeal, set aside the judge's determination rejecting the Reynolds/public interest defence and dismissed the plaintiff's claim because the judge had applied the defence to a meaning not found by the jury and had taken irrelevant considerations into account; on the proper overall assessment the subject matter was plainly of public interest and Ming Pao met the standards of responsible journalism (relied on its own reporter, sought explanation from the plaintiff and publication urgency was justified), so the public interest defence succeeded.