TNAG-1692-FCO40-2342-Hong-Kong-legislation-regarding-the-control-of-publications--1987 — Page 20

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9.

that even

most in the

world,

governments

open

have from time to time resorted to telling

and democratic countries

in the

lies to the public in

order to

suppress

the truth from

the

public.

And

our

government

is no exception.

In

recent press

made to the Ad Нос

group,

articles, and in

various

pertinent

representations

to repeat them here.

examples have been given and I do not propose

If a very responsible

newspaper has

got a tip-off

from a very reliable inside source about serious mistake being

The editorial board made by the government, what is it to do?

believes that it is 100% true after it has been confirmed by

also

other reliable sources on

an off the record basis; but it

And action may government is bound to deny it.

false news

knows that the

then be taken against the newspaper for publishing

likely to alarm the public. The defendants will find it almost

impossible

believ

for

to

that prove

they

is true, for

reasonable have

grounds

of a number

reasu.

news J that the

First, no newspaper would like to be seen in public to divulge

be

source Secondly, even if the

informer agrees to testify, which

still fail to establish

the source of its information.

revealed, unless the actual

is most unlikely, the defendants will

this defence even on

a balance of probabilities.

a defence to the press is like adding salt to injury.

To offer such