CY Leung alleges defamation, demands newspaper apology
Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying’s solicitor has sent a letter to a Hong Kong newspaper demanding an apology and the retraction of an allegedly defamatory article published last month.
Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying’s solicitor has sent a letter to a Hong Kong newspaper demanding an apology and the retraction of an allegedly defamatory article published last month.
Chan King-cheung, chief editor of the Chinese language Hong Kong Economic Journal, said on Thursday the newspaper had received the letter last week and that Leung had also asked that the HKEJ not publish any similar comments in future.
Chan said he was shocked and disappointed by Leung’s demands, describing the chief executive’s actions as “abnormal”. But he said the newspaper would not retract the article in question because the issues it discussed were in the public interest.
“Free speech is a value highly treasured in Hong Kong, and we feel it would be a bad thing for Hong Kong if this incident [Leung’s request] has a silencing effect on the media,” Chan said.
"That article stated that I was linked to triads. This is a serious accusation."
The chief executive’s move has renewed concerns over official pressure on the media, with the Hong Kong Journalists Association saying it could help suppress future criticisms of the government.
The article in question was written by veteran current affairs commentator and former Central Unit Policy adviser Joseph Lian Yi-zheng. It was published in a commentator’s section in the HKEJ on January 29.