Post seeks damages for alleged defamation in lay-off reports

The South China Morning Post is seeking unspecified damages from two Chinese-language newspapers for alleged defamation in articles about lay-offs at the Post last month.

Named as defendants in the first case are owner and publisher Hong Kong Economic Times Ltd and editor Chan Cho-biu. The article in question appeared in the Hong Kong Economic Times on October 20. In the second case, Shun Po Co Ltd, the publisher, proprietor and printer of the Hong Kong Economic Journal, and editor Chiu Hsiang-chung, are named as defendants. Its article was published on October 23. The two writs were taken out by South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd and editor Thomas Abraham.