Hong Kong News

Nonpartisan, Noncommercial, unconstrained.
Friday, Mar 24, 2023

Stand News did not censor bloggers with ‘radical’ Hong Kong views, court hears

Stand News did not censor bloggers with ‘radical’ Hong Kong views, court hears

Interviews with ex-opposition lawmakers and publications of their opinions were ‘clearly’ in public interest, says former editor-in-chief Chung Pui-kuen in sedition trial.

The now-defunct Stand News portal did not censor articles penned by its bloggers even if they expressed “radical” views that Hong Kong authorities might find offensive, its former chief editor said during his ongoing sedition trial on Tuesday.

Former editor-in-chief Chung Pui-kuen told the District Court that respect for free speech was of utmost importance when he decided whether to approve the release of any story on the popular news site he co-founded.

Chung said the website’s interviews with former opposition lawmakers and publications of their opinions were “clearly” in the public interest and what “every media organisation would wish to do”. He dismissed prosecutors’ allegations he had used Stand News as a political platform to promote “illegal” ideologies.

“Rather than restricting free speech in the name of eradicating dangerous ideologies, one should eradicate dangerous ideologies by exercising free speech. Substantial freedom of speech is most beneficial to society,” he told the court.


Chung Pui-kuen leaving court on Tuesday.

Chung, 53, took to the witness box after a judge on Monday found a prima facie case of conspiracy to publish and reproduce seditious publications.

Similar rulings were made against former acting editor-in-chief Patrick Lam Shiu-tung, 35, and Best Pencil HK, Stand News’ holding company which was unrepresented in the proceedings.

The prosecution’s case is based on 17 articles, comprising eight news reports and nine commentaries in the form of blog posts, which allegedly disparage Beijing, the local administration and the national security law.

Prosecutors have argued the news platform had provided a stage for advocating points of view that transgressed the law, such as support for Hong Kong’s independence, calls for foreign sanctions and criticisms towards the crackdown on opposition activists.

Chung on Tuesday testified that factual reporting on one’s opinions should be immune to legal consequences even after the national security law took effect in June 2020.

“A media organisation should report facts, including radical stances, as long as they concern the public interest, what the public wants to know and needs to know, even if those viewpoints include [the promotion of] Hong Kong’s independence,” he said.

The former editor said Stand News had promised their commentators, or “bloggers” as they were referred to on the website, that it would publish every article they submitted regardless of their positions, as long as their arguments were sound and could enrich the public discourse.

But he emphasised that publication was not a way to endorse certain political viewpoints, as Stand News had always strived to present stories from multiple perspectives.

Apart from politics, the news site had also focused on social and cultural issues such as the rights of sexual minorities and climate change, he added.

Founded in late 2014 by businessman Tony Tsoi Tong-hoo, Chung and Yu Ka-fai, another former editor-in-chief, Stand News largely relied on subscriptions and public donations to cover expenses during its initial years, the court heard. Both Tsoi and Yu, who are now based abroad, are wanted by the police.

Money transfer records showed the website received over HK$79 million in monthly donations from readers in 2019, marking a 10-fold increase compared with the previous year. Most deposits were made after the anti-government protests rocked the city in 2019.

Prosecutors have argued the upsurge in income proved the news service received widespread backing from like-minded individuals holding similar political beliefs.

But former chief editor Chung said the support probably reflected the huge demand for live broadcasts of the protests, in which Stand News had invested heavily since the start of the unrest, and their followers’ recognition of their professional coverage.

He said Stand News had gone through financial hardships in its initial years and there were times he had to work without pay or slash his own salary so that the organisation could stay afloat. He said the news service would not compromise editorial principles in exchange for financial stability.

Chung’s testimony continues on Wednesday.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Hong Kong News
Close
0:00
0:00
Donald Trump arrested – Twitter goes wild with doctored pictures
NYPD is setting up barricades outside Manhattan Criminal Court ahead of Trump arrest.
Credit Suisse's Scandalous History Resulted in an Obvious Collapse - It's time for regulators who fail to do their job to be held accountable and serve as an example by being behind bars.
Goldman Sachs cuts outlook for European bank debt over Credit Suisse crisis
Paris Rioting vs Macron anti democratic law
'Sexual Fantasy' Assignment At US School Outrages Parents
The US government has charged Chinese businessman Guo Wengui with leading a $1 billion fraud scheme that cheated thousands of followers out of their money.
Credit Suisse to borrow $54 billion from Swiss central bank
The BBC problem about China
Russian Hackers Preparing New Cyber Assault Against Ukraine
"Will Fly Wherever International Law Allows": US Warns Russia After Drone Incident
If this was in Tehran, Moscow or Hong Kong
Announcing GPT-4
TRUMP: "Standing before you today, I am the only candidate who can make this promise: I will prevent World War III."
China is calling out the US, UK, and Australia on their submarine pact, claiming they are going further down a dangerous road
A brief banking situation report
We are witnessing widespread bank fails and the president just gave a 5 min speech then walked off camera.
Donald Trump's asked by Tucker Carlson question on if the U.S. should support regime change in Russia?.
'No relation to the American SVB': India's SVC Bank acts to calm depositors amid brand name confusion.
Good news: The U.S. government is now guaranteeing all deposits, held by, Silicon Valley Bank, and the funds are available as of today
Silicon Valley Bank exec was Lehman Brothers CFO
In a potential last-ditch effort, HSBC is considering a rescue deal to save Silicon Valley Bank UK from insolvency
Saudi Arabia has announced a major breakthrough in diplomacy with Iran after two years of intense talks
Elon Musk Is Planning To Build A Town In Texas For His Employees
The Silicon Valley Bank’s collapse effect is spreading around the world, affecting startup companies across the globe
City officials in Berlin announced on Thursday that all swimmers at public pools will soon be allowed to swim topless
Fitness scam
Market Chaos as USDC Loses Peg to USD after $3.3 Billion Reserves Held by Silicon Valley Bank Closed.
A primitive judge in Australia sparked outrage when he told a breastfeeding woman to leave his courtroom for being “a distraction"
Barcelona is feeling the heat as they face corruption charges over payments to former vice-president of Spain's referees' committee, Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira
Banking regulators close SVB, the largest bank failure since the financial crisis
Silicon Valley Bank: Struggles Threaten Tech Startup Ecosystem"
The unelected UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, an immigrant himself, defends new controversial crackdown on illegal migration
Old clip of Bill Gates saying Ukraine is a big, fat, corrupt sinkhole is going viral
Man’s penis amputated by mistake after he’s wrongly diagnosed with a tumour
2 universities in Hong Kong embrace use of ChatGPT, other AI tools
In a major snub to Downing Street's Silicon Valley dreams, UK chip giant Arm has dealt a serious blow to the government's economic strategy by opting for a US listing
Missing Chinese banker was working to set up Singapore family office
Hong Kong ditches Covid mask mandate after 945 days
Xi Jinping and His Wife Meet with Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni and Queen Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk
How do stolen goods end up on Amazon, eBay and Facebook Marketplace?
It's the question on everyone's lips: could a four-day workweek be the future of employment?
Is Gold the Ultimate Safe Haven Asset in Times of Uncertainty?
Spain officials quit over trains that were too wide for tunnels...
Hello. Here is our news digest from London.
Corruption and Influence Buying Uncovered in International Mainstream Media: Investigation Reveals Growing Disinformation Mercenaries
When it comes to Tesla vs Lamborghini, an empty vessel makes more noise
European MP Clare Daly condemns US attack on Nord Stream
Former U.S. President Carter will spend his remaining time at home and receive hospice care instead of medication
North Korea test-fires an intercontinental ballistic missile into the Sea of Japan west of Hokkaido
×