Court of Appeal to decide whether authority findings against satirical show for insulting police justify

The Court of Appeal on Wednesday said it could take nine months before handing down the written judgment on the case appealed by the Communications Authority against the High Court's decision, which overthrown the watchdog findings on a satirical current affairs program has breached the TV program code of practice for insulting police.

Three episodes of Headliner, a now-axed satirical show produced by public broadcaster Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK), which aired between February and April 2020 were found to have insulted, disparaged police and misled the public through the Communications Authority's investigation. The watchdog also issued warning and ordered RTHK to observe more closely the relevant provisions in the TV Program Code.

The RTHK Program Staff Union and the Journalists Association later filed a judicial review of the finding after the Authority decided to uphold the complaints against Headliner. 

The High Court in 2021 ruled that the watchdog's findings were partially substantiated, but overthrew the finding that the two comedy sketches breached the TV program code for failing to express a sufficiently broad range of views and providing accurate program content.

Communications Authority then appealed against the ruling.

The representatives of the communication regulator said in the court on Wednesday that media which enjoy the right to freedom of speech have the responsibility to ensure the accuracy of its reports. It added that the program was purely speculative and satirical against the police, which proved the decision of the Authority was correct.

The representatives of the RTHK and the Journalists Association stated that the RTHK had provided sufficient news reports to support the content of the program, but agreed that the content was indeed exaggerated.

The Court of Appeal said it will give a written verdict within nine months.