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Members of Hong Kong singing group, Gillian Chung (L) and
Charlene Choi hold a banner which reads "Dignity" during a news
conference entitled "Privacy and dignity: Hong Kong people's
business" in Hong Kong August 28, 2006. Semi-nude photos of Chung
taken with a hidden camera have sparked an uproar among fans and
women's right groups. (Reuters)
More pictures | The public
outcry against Easy Finder for publishing indecent photographs of Twins'
singer Gillian Chung has been gaining momentum, with an increasing number
of people vowing to boycott
the magazine and demanding strict action against it.
A telephone and face-to face
survey conducted by the Democratic Alliance for Betterment
and Progress of Hong Kong (DAB) from August 25 to 27 shows 80 per cent of
the people will boycott the magazine in response to the calls by various
organizations.
An overwhelming majority (90 per cent) of the 667 respondents said the
sleazy photographs would have
a negative impact on youngsters, while 88 per cent considered it an insult
to women. That existing regulations don't have enough control over
publications carrying obscene materials was felt by more than 81 per cent.
Since there are no laws at present to punish privacy violation, for example, by using
spy cameras , offenders should
get the maximum penalty under the Control of Obscene and Indecent Articles Ordinance ,
Young DAB Chairman Horace Cheung said yesterday.
"Laws punishing such offences are not only urgent, but also the only
long-term solution. The government should promote the Personal Data
(Privacy) Ordinance to strengthen public awareness of privacy issues," he
said.
The DAB Women Affairs Committee Chairperson urged the local media to
exercise self-discipline, and asked residents to stand up for decency.
The Hong Kong Press Council has received a few dozen complaints against
Easy Finder that include those from Chung's agent. Press Council Chairman
Edward Chen said they expected the magazine to respond to their lawyer's
letter in the next few days.
"The council will examine the issue and make a decision this week. Our
actions are not legally binding, though, and the most drastic one will be
public condemnation," Chen said.
Public uproar has continued to rise, with the Television &
Entertainment Licensing Authority getting close to 2,500 complaints
against Easy Finder till yesterday. A women's rights coalition will
observe a protest today, demanding that the government tackle the
legal loopholes in existing
regulations.
(Agencies) | 
