Hong Kong Ordinances

DEFAMATION ORDINANCE - SECT 14

Qualified privilege of newspapers

(1) Subject to the provisions of this section, the publication in a newspaper
or the broadcasting of any such report or other matter as is mentioned in the
Schedule shall be privileged unless the publication is proved to be made with
malice.

(2) In an action for libel in respect of the publication of any such report or
matter as is mentioned in Part II of the Schedule, the provisions of this
section shall not be a defence if it is proved that the defendant has been
requested by the plaintiff to publish in the manner in which the original
publication was made a reasonable letter or statement by way of explanation or
contradiction, and has refused or neglected to do so, or has done so in a
manner not adequate or not reasonable having regard to all the circumstances.

(3) Nothing in this section shall be construed as protecting the publication
of any matter the publication of which is prohibited by law, or of any matter
which is not of public concern and the publication of which is not for the
public benefit. (Replaced 33 of 1961 s. 8) [cf. 1952 c. 66 s. 7 U.K.]