OpinionTime to allow cameras in Hong Kong courts

There is nothing like a court drama to grip the public's imagination and Bo Xilai's recent trial had all the necessary ingredients - wealth, power, sex, violence and political intrigue.

No wonder it became an internet hit, with edited transcripts of the proceedings drawing hundreds of thousands of followers to the Jinan court's official weibo account. The surprise release of the transcripts has been hailed by some as a landmark for the development of open justice on the mainland.

Such claims should not be overstated. The trial was not open to the public and media access was strictly limited. The transcripts themselves were censored. The move was therefore, at best, a carefully controlled release of information, at worst, part of a sophisticated propaganda exercise - a show trial for the social media age.

But some transparency is better than none. The content of the transcripts sparked much debate on the internet, including expressions of sympathy for Bo, who was jailed for life for corruption on Sunday. It is encouraging that other mainland courts are releasing live updates on criminal trials through social media. This is no substitute for allowing the media to report cases freely, but it is a start.

The debate should make us consider how open our court proceedings are in Hong Kong. We like to think of our system as being an open one. Trials are generally open to the public and are widely covered by the media. Written judgments can be found on the judiciary's website.

But court documents and transcripts of trials are not easy to obtain. They should be readily available. Journalists are not allowed to send text messages or tweets from court. And cameras are banned.