Eastweek's former chief editor jailed for publishing captive Carina Lau's half nude photos Former Chief Editor of Hong Kong Eastweek Magazine was convicted on Tuesday to five months jail for publishing Carina Lau's half naked photos on the cover page seven years ago. Project House Artist Management, Lau's managing company, expressed that they have not been informed of the verdict and are unable to comment. The magazine published half-naked photos of a Hong Kong female celebrity on its #521 edition cover on October 30, 2002. The woman in the photo, which was obviously taken under forced circumstances, appeared to be battered and was in tears. Though the topless photo of a blindfolded and distressed lady was mosaiced and impossible to identify, it created an uproar in showbiz. Lau later admitted publicly that she was the victim. Apparently, the photo was taken when she was kidnapped by triad thugs almost two decades ago. The action of the magazine was frowned upon and representatives of the Hong Kong showbiz industry held a press conference to criticize the publication and promised to seek justice for Lau. International superstar Jackie Chan also strongly called for the public to boycott Eastweek. The publication later explained that they decided to publish the photo to break the cruel fact to the public and not to put Lau to shame. They claimed that the ripple effect of their report was out of their expectations but would reflect on their practice. On November 3, 2002, over 500 Hong Kong celebrities took to the streets in demonstration. Lau expressed her gratitude for the public's concern and support and said, "I am stronger than I imagined myself to be." Her husband, then boyfriend, Tony Leung, also supported her and reproached the magazine's "immoral act". Due to the adverse and dramatic impact of the incident on the society, CEO of the Eastweek, Albert Yeung, announced for the magazine to cease publication three days after that edition was released, marking a temporary suspension of the 10-year-long publication. Though the magazine later published a letter of apology on a newspaper, Director of East Week Chan Yiu On, Chief Editor Mong Hong-ming and another editor took the blame and resigned. On November 4, the Hong Kong government ruled the photo to be an object of indecency and obscenity. In March the following year, the police arrested 11 people from the managerial level for investigation. Hong Kong court also charged Mong for dissemination of the obscene photo. Eastweek defended their charges with "freedom of speech" and said that in their pursuit for news, some celebs' privacy was inevitably sacrificed. The court later convicted Eastweek Magazine for disseminating indecent and obscene photos, and fined them HKD$20,000. Eastweek later filed for appeal. On December 3, 2008, six years later, Mong admitted to his charges and was sentenced to six months jail term suspended for two years. The jury pointed out that the accused, as chief editor, should bear responsibility, but since the report is classified as cheap entertainment and indecent and obscene photos, not pornography, he was thus given probation. Tuesday, the Court of Appeal quashed the former magistrates' court sentence, and ruled Mong to five months jail term with immediate effect.
But it's been so long, what is the real reason behind it now...is it for justice or just pressure from the celebs.
even though publishing such may bring a sense of wanting to support the victim from fellow people, it will still give light to the "ridiculing" factor in other publics' eyes. I'm glad he's being sentenced for his actions, the story shouldn't even have been published. for crying out loud, it already happened over 2 decades ago before it was even published!
