Hong Kong singer's victory over Next Media

A Hong Kong magazine criticized for publishing secretly-shot photographs of a semi-naked pop star has lost its appeal against a court's findings that the article was obscene.

The Obscene Articles Tribunal supported an earlier judgement that the photographs of singer Gillian Chung — one half of the popular duo Twins — published in an August edition of Easy Finder magazine were obscene.

The poor quality pictures, taken while Chung was changing costumes backstage during a concert in Malaysia, showed her bare back and a hint of bra strap.

The article was taken to the tribunal after Hong Kong's media watchdog received a record number of complaints about the pictures.

In last Wednesday's appeal, a panel of one judge and four lay members (ordinary citizens) supported the judgment, describing the article as a planned act of selling sexuality which is corrupting and disgusting.

Chung has said she will sue the magazine, published by Next Media, which also publishes the city's biggest-selling newspaper, the racy tabloid Apple Daily.

The case sparked a furious backlash from celebrities who complained that the city's hungry press had often gone too far. They called for the government to bring in measures to control the behavior of the paparazzi, independent photographers who chase after celebrities to take unauthorized photographs to sell, and their buyers — the tabloids.

People have often complained that Hong Kong's very competitive mass media have dug too deep into people's personal lives while trying to get a story. (AFP)

Absolutely correct for the decision, government should control the behavior of paparazzi...
Paparazzi should ban from reporting personal lives of artists unless the artist said tell it to media...then it should be alright for paparazzi to report it...

What an excellent decision and verdict!!!Hopefully Gillian has recovered my now.This decision would give a guarantee to the artistes...

aaaah yes. the craziness of HK media. I mean, car chases, the mass swamp, people tripping over and stepping over you.. haha. Saw some paparazzis chasing some car once. When it was red light, everyone jumped out of their car and swamped it. Quite crazy and stupid really.

its obvious it would come to this judgement.. throughout the whole thing next media was always in the wrong.. their appeal was just ridiculous

seriously the government needs to control the media but i have a feeling not much will be done by the government

wait a moment.. the government needs to control the media? how communist!

the media must remain free though the media itself should have responsibility and govern itself

A very fair, reasonable and good decision made. I'm not necessarily in agreement that the government should control the media, but I definitely feel that sometimes the paparazzi goes too far. I hate that they sneak, spy and dig themselves holes so deep around certain celebritites so that they can get the latest scoop. Seriously, tone down a bit and control yourselves. *Rolls eyes* Anyway, I'm very happy with the decision that was made by court and I feel that this certain media agency deserve whatever "punishment" they got. Hopefully this will be an example set for the future so that other media coveragers don't follow the same disgusting behavior.

good decision! don't think they have any other option...they can't possibly declare d mag innocent because it will have a great ripple effect n all mags will follow suit. chaos will break loose!

This serves Apply Daily just. The Government should really step in and write up a legislator to put an end in these propagandas. This really is affecting celeb's personal lives. They are human toO!!

Good to know that ...... all the celebrities can be a bit more at ease now!

I agree... there is always a limitation to things. I think its the right decision. Although ther eis a freedom of speech or to do whatever they want.. but its very unfair.