The case against Choi Yuk-ling, a Writer and director of RTHK’s “Clang Gee”, who conducted a license plate search to cover the 721 Yuen Long terrorist attack in 2019, was charged with misrepresenting the purpose of the search, and the trial began on Wednesday (24). The magistrate ruled that the prima facie case is established and will be decided on April 22, during which the defendant can continue to be released on bail. But Choi Yuk-ling pleaded not guilty in court.
Choi Yuk-ling, the editor and director of Radio Television Hong Kong‘s “Clang Gai” program, was charged with two counts of “knowingly making false statements for the purpose of obtaining a certificate under the Road Traffic Ordinance” for producing a special report on the “7.21 Yuen Long Night Out”, which caused an outcry from the public.
The case was heard at the West Kowloon Court on Wednesday, and about 20 RTHK trade unionists showed up in solidarity. Choi Yuk-ling behaved calmly, and RTHK trade union members together with the media to take pictures, did not speak before entering the court.
The charge alleges that Choi Yuk-ling made false statements in May and June of last year in order to obtain a certificate of registration details for a private car, stating that the purpose was related to transportation matters, knowingly.
The court played a clip from the full episode of “7.21 Who Owns the Truth”, representing Tsoi Yuk Ling senior barrister Chan Ching Lung said that the vehicle in question was suspected to have visited the scene on the night of July 21 of the previous year to deliver weapons to the suspected assailants, the defendant tried to check the register to identify the vehicle suspected to be used as a tool of crime, to find out the person in charge of the vehicle must be related to traffic and transportation matters, the defendant made the statement is obviously true.
In her closing arguments, the defense pointed out that Choi Yuk Ling selected “other traffic and transportation related matters” as the purpose of the search, in which “related” is a general and very broad word, not a legal word, but only in the search application form, the court was weighing the interview The law does not expressly state that the Commissioner of Transportation has the authority to limit the lawful purpose of a search to cover all matters relating to the use of a vehicle, including the identification of the owner of the vehicle.
The defense also pointed out that, according to the regulations, when the applicant paid the registration fee, the Commissioner must issue a certificate to the person concerned, not because the person is not for traffic and transportation purposes to obtain information, and refuse to issue a certificate. If the Director does not have the relevant power, “other matters relating to traffic and transport” is not an “essential item” and the prosecution is considered to be trying to make a fuss about personal privacy.
After hearing arguments from both sides, Chief Magistrate Elaine Tsui ruled that a prima facie case was established. Tsai Yu-Ling stood at the defense bar and said twice in a row, “I plead not guilty,” and chose not to defend herself or call witnesses. The case was scheduled to be heard for two days, but the prosecution and defense finished their closing arguments that afternoon and postponed the case until April 22, when the defendant was allowed to leave on his original condition of recognizance.
Instead of lending a helping hand, the management of RTHK stopped her participation in the production of “The Clanging Collection” after Choi Yuk Ling was accused late last year. The RTHK programmers’ union criticized the move as a disguise to suspend Choy indefinitely, questioning the management’s decision to suspend her before trial.
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