Minister's wife tells defamation trial of 'unhealthy perception' of rumours

The wife of the development minister yesterday claimed her daughter was so worried about a rumour that her school's head boy was cheating that she felt compelled to bring the accusation to the attention of the school, the Court of First Instance heard.

Frieda Hui Po-ming, wife of Development Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po, said her daughter Joyce first told her in November 2011 about the rumour involving Jonathan Lu and Caitlin Lu - the twin children of Chinese International School governor Carl Lu. The gossip alleged they had been "spotted cheating".

Hui said her daughter looked worried and helpless as she felt the school was doing nothing to address the problem.

"Joyce is not a person who loves gossiping. I knew the matter had reached a certain degree of seriousness," Hui said.

She said the parents and the children of three families she contacted had also heard the rumour and this made her believe more in the allegations.

"I, as a parent, was of the view that the issue should [be brought to the attention of] the school as it was not about the rumour but that the rumour had caused and created an unhealthy perception," she said. "I was of the view that the school should do something to stop the rumour."

The twins and their father are suing Chan and his wife for sending emails which defamed them.