Defendants’ Instagram clip hasn’t clouded view, Hong Kong reporter tells Songkran assault trial
- Prosecution witness says three defendants hurt his eyes and ears by shooting jets of water at him with ‘relatively powerful’ toy guns
A television news reporter who complained he was assaulted at a Thai new year celebration in Hong Kong by being soaked with water guns has denied his views on the trio were coloured by a social media clip poking fun at him.
The journalist said he was aware the trio had produced and publicised a two-minute clip on YouTube and Instagram mocking him and his company TVB, the city’s biggest free-to-air broadcaster.
But he rejected the defence’s contention he had confused his discontent with the persistent splashing with his disapproval of the video.
Ng stressed he had never thought of being drenched to the skin during the event, adding the trio’s “intentional” acts were unwarranted.
“Since the start of my career, I had been given the cold shoulder from time to time when I tried to interview people on the streets, but I had never encountered such hostile conduct like this before,” Ng said.
Songkran marks the Thai new year, and the traditional practice of pouring water to wash away sins and bad luck has evolved into mass water fights on the streets. The event returned to Kowloon City, home to hundreds of Thai people, in 2023 after the Covid-19 pandemic put celebrations on hold for three years.
