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Hong Kong leader John Lee says no need for law targeting fake news, citing faith in practitioners’ self-discipline
- Lee says some media practitioners and outlets are already ‘refuting or correcting’ misinformation
- Secretary for Justice Paul Lam earlier told the Post that fake news law was off the legislative agenda due to ‘difficult legal questions’ about definitions
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Hong Kong does not need a law targeting fake news as the media industry has improved and practitioners’ “self-discipline and professionalism” can curb the circulation of falsehoods, the city’s leader has said, confirming an earlier exclusive Post report.
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Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu made his position clear on the controversial issue on Tuesday ahead of the weekly meeting of his key decision-making Executive Council. It followed Secretary for Justice Paul Lam Ting-kwok’s revelation in an exclusive interview with the Post that a fake news law was off the legislative agenda.
Lam said there were “very difficult legal questions” surrounding key definitions of the law.
Hong Kong’s media industry had improved “since the worst period”, the city leader said when asked whether the newly enacted domestic national security law, known as Article 23, would be employed to tackle the spread of fake information.
Lee added that he had seen efforts made by some media practitioners and outlets in “refuting or correcting” misinformation.
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“If the industry can tackle this problem by maintaining self-discipline and professionalism, we should go for this as the first option,” Lee said, without giving examples or naming media outlets.
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