The Oriental Press Group won a court victory yesterday after appealing against a judge's ruling that it was fair comment to say the company threatened legal action whenever it was referred to.
The local media giant and its now-defunct English language daily, Eastern Express, will together be awarded $80,000 in damages after the earlier ruling was overturned. The group is entitled to half the costs of bringing the action.
Three Court of Appeal judges yesterday agreed it was not fair comment to accuse the group of using its legal muscle to silence its critics. The group declined to comment yesterday.
Action was taken when television presenter Claudia Mo Man-ching said on Media Watch on March 11, 1995, that the group threatened legal proceedings every time it was referred to.
RTHK's Director of Broadcasting, Cheung Man-yee, was also sued.
The Court of First Instance had ruled that a 'sufficient sub-stratum of supporting fact' justified the remark.