A South China Morning Post journalist assured a judge yesterday that all copies of a court document released to the press 'without authorisation' had been returned.
Chief court reporter Cliff Buddle told Mr Justice Conrad Seagroatt he had not allowed anyone to see or photocopy the plaintiff's opening in a high-profile civil dispute.
Buddle had been off work sick on Monday when the judge called reporters before him after learning the document was circulating among the press.
Then, Mr Justice Seagroatt ordered the return of all copies of the opening.
'I call it back because I'm entitled to call it back in the interests of justice and to prevent any damage being done,' he said.
The judge told the reporters he was not criticising them for accepting the papers, offered to them by lawyers in the case.
