Two plead not guilty to beating SCMP photographer

Two men charged with beating a South China Morning Post photographer pleaded not guilty in Fanling Court yesterday.

Cheng Shing-wing and Li Hak, both aged 51, each face a charge of common assault and will return to court on May 3 and May 6. They were alleged to have assaulted Tse Mei-fong on February 28 on the staircase of the footbridge linking Sheung Shui MTR station and Choi Yuen Estate. Tse was assigned to take photographs in the area when the incident happened.

The two were asked by magistrate Dr Eric Cheung Kwan-ming why they did not have a lawyer.

Li, who is unemployed, replied: "I was just trying to grab her camera and take back the photos."

But Cheung asked them to consult a duty lawyer. After a 90-minute adjournment, they returned to the court and pleaded not guilty. They were released on HK$1,000 bail each. The magistrate required them to report to police twice a week. He also told them to find a lawyer as soon as possible.