Barrister Martin Lee Chu-ming SC had performed 'semantic surgery' by trying to convince a jury that comments on a radio show had not defamed lawyer Paul Tse Wai-chun, a court was told yesterday.
The Court of First Instance case involves comments made on the Commercial Radio show Teacup in a Storm on August 1, 1996, by presenters Albert Cheng King-hon and Peter Lam Yuk-wah about the case of a Hong Kong tour guide jailed in the Philippines.
Mr Tse claims the pair ruined his reputation by saying he was representing the travel industry when he advised Paul Au Wing-cheung not to sue his employer, Select Tours, after he was sacked.
Mr Tse is also suing the Hong Kong Commercial Broadcasting Company.
Mr Cheng said the advice of Mr Tse and others to Mr Au was 'not to stir up trouble and claim against his boss'.
'I'm not sure whether they did so out of goodwill or whether they have done something bad out of goodwill or ill will,' Mr Cheng earlier said on air.
