Mr. Koo remarked: “I am delighted to receive damages from the libel proceedings, and in particular to be able to direct the sum for the meaningful cause of helping the earthquake victims in Sichuan. The fair conclusion of the legal action signifies that I, as a Hong Kong citizen, am able to defend my freedom of expression, which in fact is the most important reason behind my commencement of the proceedings.”
The libel action was launched by Mr. Koo against Apple Daily columnist古德明, Apple Daily Limited and its editor-in-chief (at the time of the publication) Lam Ping Hang. The plaintiff found the article written by the first defendant in an Apple Daily column a grave distortion of his views as manifested in an open declaration published in 16 newspapers by Mr. Koo on November 16, 2005. Therefore, Mr. Koo resolved to commence proceedings to vindicate his reputation, and to uphold the freedom of expression of Hong Kong citizens in a bid to realize true democracy. Before the hearing was due to start, the defendants made three payments into court in satisfaction of the plaintiff’s claim for damages, bringing the total sum to HK$600,001, and further agreed to pay all legal costs incurred. Considering that his good reputation will thereby be vindicated and Hong Kong citizens’ rights to democracy and freedom of expression respected and upheld, Mr. Koo decided to accept the payment into court, which brought the proceedings to an end.
The parties subsequently agreed on a sum of HK$800,000 as legal costs. Mr. Koo stated that it was never his intention to make money out of this action. The legal costs that he has recovered, together with the entire sum of HK$600,001 as damages, aggregating to a total sum of HK$1,400,001, was therefore been donated to the Caring for Children Foundation.
Since the devastating earthquake last May, the Caring for Children Foundation has on several occasions allocated grants and dispatched voluntary helpers to Sichuan to care for those affected. Although the disaster occurred almost a year ago, those in the affected regions are still in need of assistance in their rebuilding works. The Foundation has pledged continued efforts to raise funds for Sichuan’s rebuilding works.
In full support of the Foundation’s charity work, Mr. Koo Ming Kown today handed over a donation in the total sum of HK$1,400,001 to the Foundation’s chairman Mr. Eric Tsang Chi-wai. Mr. Koo hopes that his humble donation, together with his two previous donations – including RMB2 million to 深圳慈善基金 (the Shenzhen Charity Fund) for earthquake relief only one week after the tragic event, and HK$300,000 to the Green Field Foundation for rebuilding schools, which were destroyed during the earthquake – would offer both spiritual and financial support to the victims of the earthquake.
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