HONG KONG COURT RULES THAT RADIO LAWS CURB FREEDOM AND ARE UNCONSTITUTIONAL
January 10th 2008 01:45
Reuters reports that a Hong Kong court has ruled that its radio laws curb freedom of expression and are unconstitutional amid a legal battle by a pirate radio station 10 years after the territory's return to Communist-ruled China.
But the court suspended its final judgment, pending a possible government appeal.
Magistrate Douglas Yau said local radio laws gave Hong Kong's leaders "unfettered and unchecked" power to control who could conduct radio broadcasts, the South China Morning Post reported.
The ruling follows a two-year court fight by activists including maverick lawmaker Leung Kwok-hung to open up the airwaves for their Citizens' Radio station.
Since Hong Kong reverted from British to Chinese rule in 1997, human rights groups have criticised the government for monopolising the airwaves against the public interest.
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