We object to alleged wrongdoing, says Next Media over contempt of court claim
Owner denies any wrongdoing by the group or its staff and will fight charges
Next Media, the owner of and which are embroiled in a contempt of court allegation over coverage of a murder case, made its first response yesterday by saying it "objected to any alleged wrongdoing" by it or its staff.
It defended itself against Secretary for Justice Rimsky Yuen Kwok-keung's applications to the High Court for two editors and two reporters of the Chinese-language papers to be jailed or fined for their roles in publishing two articles and a video.
"As a strong proponent and protector of freedom of the press, the company expresses its disagreement at the institution of these proceedings," Next Media chief executive officer Cassian Cheung Ka-sing said in the announcement, which was filed with Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing.
"The company objects to any alleged wrongdoing on the part of the group or its staff and has assisted all parties concerned to seek legal representation to protect their rights and to defend in these proceedings," he stated.
Next Media broke its silence after the justice secretary first took legal action against editor Cheung Kim-hung and editor Li Pang-kay and the two papers for their roles in the coverage of a "double homicide" case on July 30.
Then on Tuesday, Yuen filed another application against reporters Luk Yu-ping and Law Yat-sing who were alleged to have played "a significant role" in the publication of an article and a video.
Mr Justice Jeremy Poon Shiu-chor had granted leave to the secretary to make the application for committal against the reporters, editors and newspapers. No date has been fixed for the hearings.
The articles ran on March 20 and related to a "double homicide" case, the filings said.
Both newspapers had an exclusive interview with Henry Chau Hoi-leung, 29, who in March was accused with his friend, Tse Chun-Kei, 35, of murdering and dismembering his parents at Tse's Tai Kok Tsui flat.
Chau was interviewed and spoke freely about the case. also published a video on its website, the writs said.
