Several years ago, Hong Kong’s Apple Daily published reports alleging that Xiang Xin, Chairman of China Innovation Investment Limited, and his wife Gong Qing were “Chinese spies.” Subsequently, Mr. Xiang and his wife sued Apple Daily for defamation. On Tuesday, the Hong Kong High Court ruled Apple Daily guilty of defamation and ordered compensation of HKD 1.5 million (approximately RM 776,800) along with payment of legal costs.
In 2019, Apple Daily published ten online and print articles alleging that Mr. Xiang and his wife were engaged in espionage activities. That same year, the Xiang couple filed a lawsuit in the High Court, claiming the reports were defamatory and seeking compensation.
Later, Mr. Xiang and his wife reached a settlement with former Editor-in-Chief Luo Weiguang, ultimately only suing Apple Daily Limited and Apple Internet Limited.
The case was concluded in a hearing the year before last, and on Tuesday, the High Court judge ruled in favor of the Xiang couple, determining that the reports were defamatory.
Since the two Apple companies have already been dissolved, the trial was a default hearing, and only written defenses were submitted.