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{{short description|2008 unlawful publication of private photos}} | |||
]s in early February.]] | |||
{{non-free|date=April 2023}} | |||
The '''Edison Chen photo scandal''' is an event in early 2008 which shook the Hong Kong entertainment industry and captivated the public continuously for over three weeks. It involved intimate photographs taken by ] actor ] of and/or with various actresses, including ], ], and ].<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.postchronicle.com/news/original/article_212128810.shtml | title = Cecilia Cheung Nude, Gillian Chung Fellatio Photo In Edison Chen Scandal |author=Post Chronicle | date = 4 February 2008 | accessdate = 2008-02-04 }}</ref> | |||
{{EngvarB|date=January 2014}} | |||
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2021}} | |||
]s in early February 2008.]] | |||
In 2008, intimate and private photographs of ] actor ] with various women, including actresses ], ], Rachel Ngan, and ], were unlawfully distributed over the Internet.<ref>{{cite web|author=Patrick Frater|url=http://www.varietyasiaonline.com/content/view/5426/53/ |title=HK police arrest 7 more in celebrity porn scandal|work=] |date= 4 February 2008|access-date=4 February 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080204140900/http://www.varietyasiaonline.com/content/view/5426/53/|archive-date=4 February 2008 }}</ref> The scandal shook the Hong Kong entertainment industry and received high-profile media attention locally and around the world. Many local newspapers headlined the story consecutively during the first fortnight of February 2008, relegating coverage of the ] to secondary prominence during ]. | |||
In a crackdown that itself became a controversial item, the ] enlisted the assistance of ] to stem the spread of the photographs.<ref name="wenweipo0102">{{cite web | |||
In late January 2008, "racy photographs" depicting Chen and the aforementioned actresses were circulated on the Internet. The scandal made front page of local newspapers for several weeks,<ref>{{cite web|author=Patrick Frater|url=http://www.varietyasiaonline.com/content/view/5426/53/ |title="HK police arrest 7 more in celebrity porn scandal"|publisher= ]|date= 04 February 2008| accessdate = 2008-02-04 }}</ref> and has made international news. | |||
|url = http://paper.wenweipo.com/2008/02/01/YO0802010004.htm | |||
|script-title = zh:網頁極速蔓延 淫照難盡剷 | |||
|work = ] | |||
|date = 1 February 2008 | |||
|access-date = 12 March 2013 | |||
|language = zh | |||
|url-status = dead | |||
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121226064747/http://paper.wenweipo.com/2008/02/01/YO0802010004.htm | |||
|archive-date = 26 December 2012 | |||
}}</ref> Ten people were arrested in connection with the distribution of the photographs.<ref name="standard0402">{{cite web|url=http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=12&art_id=61125&sid=17431562&con_type=3|title=Eight now held in Internet sex probe|work=]|date=4 February 2008|access-date=4 February 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080205040310/http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=12&art_id=61125&sid=17431562&con_type=3|archive-date=5 February 2008}}</ref> A computer technician was convicted of three counts of obtaining access to a computer with dishonest intent, and received a custodial sentence of eight and a half months.<ref name="smh.com.au">{{cite news| url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/technology/articles/2009/05/13/1241894033965.html |title=Tech jailed for stealing sex-with-starlet photos |date= 13 May 2009 | work=The Sydney Morning Herald}}</ref> | |||
The police crackdown raised questions over violations of the privacy and ] rights of Internet users.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.sina.com.hk/cgi-bin/nw/show.cgi/2/1/1/629150/1.html|script-title=zh:一哥:藏裸照供發布可拉人|date=3 February 2008|publisher=sina.com.hk| access-date=8 February 2008|language=zh|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080204074934/http://news.sina.com.hk/cgi-bin/nw/show.cgi/2/1/1/629150/1.html|archive-date=4 February 2008}}</ref> The manner in which actors, their management, and the police handled the situation, in turn, made those arrested into heroes for some Internet users.<ref name="sina0102">{{cite web | |||
Despite enlisting the assistance of ], the ] have not been able to stem the spread of the photographs.<ref name="wenweipo0102">{{cite web | |||
|url = http://news.sina.com/oth/phoenixtv/502-104-103-108/2008-02-01/00112643396.html | |||
|script-title=zh:網民支持發照者 批警方偏袒 學者:網絡暴力作祟 | |||
|title = 網頁極速蔓延 淫照難盡剷 | |||
|publisher = ] | |||
|date = 1 February 2008 | |||
|access-date=12 March 2013 | |||
|accessdate = 2008-02-04 | |||
|language=zh | |||
}}</ref> | |||
}}</ref> As of ] ], ten people were arrested in connection with the distribution of the photographs.<ref name="standard0402">{{cite web|url=http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=12&art_id=61125&sid=17431562&con_type=3|title=Eight now held in Internet sex probe|publisher=The Standard|date=]|accessdate=2008-02-04}}</ref> The police crackdown has instead raised questions over violations of the privacy and ] rights of Internet users.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.sina.com.hk/cgi-bin/nw/show.cgi/2/1/1/629150/1.html|title=一哥:藏裸照供發布可拉人|date=2008-02-03|publisher=sina.com.hk| accessdate=2008-02-08|language=Traditional Chinese}}</ref> The manner in which actors, their management, and the police have handled the situation has, in turn, made those arrested into heroes and martyrs for some netizens.<ref name="sina0102">{{cite web | |||
|url = http://news.sina.com/oth/phoenixtv/502-104-103-108/2008-02-01/00112643396.html | |||
|title = 網民支持發照者 批警方偏袒 學者:網絡暴力作祟 | |||
|publisher = ] | |||
|date = ] | |||
|accessdate = 2008-02-04 | |||
|language=Traditional Chinese | |||
}}</ref> | |||
Chen admitted being the author and ] owner of most of the photographs, and stated that the private photographs had been stolen and published illegally without his ]. He made a public apology, especially to the women involved, and also announced that he would "step away indefinitely" from the Hong Kong entertainment industry.<ref name=sorry>{{cite web | |||
|url |
|url=http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=12&art_id=61938&sid=17712230&con_type=5&d_str=20080222&sear_year=2008 | ||
|title |
|title=Edison bows out on sorry note | ||
| |
|work=] | ||
|author |
|author=Nickkita Lau | ||
|date |
|date=22 February 2008 | ||
|access-date=12 March 2013 | |||
|accessdate = 2008-02-22 | |||
|url-status=dead | |||
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120819062918/http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=12&art_id=61938&sid=17712230&con_type=5&d_str=20080222&sear_year=2008 | |||
|archive-date=19 August 2012 | |||
}}</ref> | }}</ref> | ||
==History== | ==History== | ||
] | ] | ||
In November 2006, Chen |
In November 2006, Chen purchased a pink ] personal computer, a photograph of which he published on his blog. It may have come from Elite Multimedia, a computer shop in Hong Kong's ].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://star.ent.mop.com/8gua/exposure/2008-02-05/81398.shtml|script-title=zh:涉及淫照风波的电脑店铺 常有男艺人光顾 |publisher=猫扑|date=5 February 2008|access-date=6 February 2008|language=zh|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080208082230/http://star.ent.mop.com/8gua/exposure/2008-02-05/81398.shtml|archive-date=8 February 2008}}</ref> According to the police, Chen brought his computer to the shop for repairs in 2007. Employees who discovered over 1,300 intimate photographs of Chen and numerous female celebrities may have secretly copied these files.<ref name="batgwa.com2">{{cite web|url=http://batgwa.com/story.php?id=569 |title='Edison's Conquests' Sex Photos – Computer Shop Searched |publisher=batgwa.com |date=3 February 2008 |access-date=4 February 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080207045857/http://www.batgwa.com/story.php?id=569 |archive-date=7 February 2008 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ycwb.com/xkb/2008-02/06/content_1784734.htm|script-title=zh:陈冠希道歉 请求大家销毁不雅照片|publisher=金羊网|date=6 February 2008|access-date=12 March 2013|language=zh|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120220103241/http://www.ycwb.com/xkb/2008-02/06/content_1784734.htm|archive-date=20 February 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="technician">{{cite web|url=http://www.singpao.com/20080204/local/945111.html |script-title=zh:店員炫耀淫照出事 |work=] |date=4 February 2008 |access-date=6 February 2008 |language=zh |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080216212007/http://www.singpao.com/20080204/local/945111.html |archive-date=16 February 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> According to Chen, the image files were deleted before the computer was taken in for repairs.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2009-06/04/content_8249386.htm |title=Edison Chen calls sex photos youthful indiscretion |author=Agencies |date=4 June 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090607100451/http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2009-06/04/content_8249386.htm|archive-date=7 June 2009}}</ref> | ||
Chen's photographs were reportedly made sometime between 2003<ref name="qingdao1">{{cite web|url=http://www.qingdaonews.com/content/2008-02/06/content_7809564.htm|script-title=zh:网上再现6张女艺人不雅照|publisher=Qingdao News|date=6 February 2008|access-date=12 March 2013|language=zh|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924083620/http://www.qingdaonews.com/content/2008-02/06/content_7809564.htm|archive-date=24 September 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> and 2006.<ref name=chinapress>{{cite web |url=http://www.chinapress.com.my/content_new.asp?dt=2008-01-31&sec=entertainment&art=0131en16.txt|script-title=zh:网上再现6张女艺人不雅照|work=] |date=30 January 2008|access-date=3 March 2008|language=zh|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080203104151/http://www.chinapress.com.my/content_new.asp?dt=2008-01-31&sec=entertainment&art=0131en16.txt|archive-date=3 February 2008}}</ref> One close friend indicated that Chen liked to take photographs during intimate moments with his sexual partners, of whom 14 were celebrities, and privately showed these to a select group of close friends.<ref name=cecilia/> | |||
One close friend of Chen indicated that he liked to take photographs during intimate moments with his sexual partners, of whom 14 were celebrities, and privately showed these to a select group of close friends.<ref name=cecilia/> | |||
== |
=== Unfolding === | ||
The first photograph, |
The first intimate photograph, with likenesses of Chen and ], was posted on the ] at approximately 8:30 p.m. on 27 January 2008. Although the original post was deleted after a few hours, the image did the rounds at other major forums in Hong Kong such as ] and ]. Chung's management agency, ] (EEG), immediately challenged its authenticity, and filed a police report. The following day, a second explicit photograph of Chen with another starlet appeared on the Internet. EEG denounced the person who released it. Gillian Chung had taken a leave of absence, and would not comment on the matter. Shaped by the denials, the initial media consensus was that the photographs were hoaxes.<ref>{{cite news |title=Gillian Chung and Edison Chen 'racy photos' exposed|work=Apple Daily |date=29 January 2008|language=zh}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Edison Chen, Ah Giu, BoBo bedshots exposed|work=] |date=29 January 2008|language=zh}}</ref> Nevertheless, the story became the headline of major local Hong Kong newspapers. | ||
Over a few hours on 29 January, several more photographs appeared on the Internet. On one, journals identified ] from her distinctive tattoo set.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://english.rednet.cn/c/2008/02/04/1435856.htm|title=Hong Kong stars slam nude photos|publisher=REDNET.CN|date=4 February 2008|access-date=5 February 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080207050142/http://english.rednet.cn/c/2008/02/04/1435856.htm|archive-date=7 February 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref> The photographs became the talk of the town, and local ] became saturated.<ref>{{cite news |title=Racy photos scandal|work=Apple Daily |date=30 January 2008}}</ref> Journals established with known video footage that the photographs were taken inside Chen's residence.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ent.xmnext.com/star/2008/01/30/1037989.html |script-title=zh:张柏芝卷入陈冠希艳照门 网上惊现疑似裸照 |publisher=xinmin.cn |date=30 January 2008 |access-date=6 February 2008 |language=zh |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080208114808/http://ent.xmnext.com/star/2008/01/30/1037989.html |archive-date=8 February 2008 }}</ref> Nevertheless, Cheung's solicitors denounced the upload as a "malicious, immoral and irresponsible act".<ref name=chinapress/> | |||
At 3 p.m. the day following EEG's statement, a second explicit photograph of Chen with another female presumed to be ] appeared on the Internet. An emergency meeting was held at EEG immediately that evening after which the company declared that it would pursue the publisher of the image for this "irresponsible" and "malicious act." Gillian Chung was reportedly very distraught, had taken a leave of absence, and would not comment on the matter. Shaped by the denials, the initial media consensus was that the photographs had been ].<ref>{{cite news|title=Gillian Chung and Edison Chen 'racy photos' exposed|publisher=]|date=29 January 2008|language=Traditional Chinese}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Edison Chen, Ah Giu, BoBo bedshots exposed|publisher=]|date=29 January 2008|language=Traditional Chinese}}</ref> The story became the headline of major local Hong Kong newspapers. | |||
Assistant Commissioner of Police (Crime) Vincent Wong Fook-chuen said that 19 officers from the Commercial Crime Bureau were investigating.<ref name=sing/> The police and photographic experts authenticated the photos involving the first three female celebrities.<ref name=joey>{{cite web |url=http://www.asiaone.com/Just%2BWoman/News/Celebrities/Story/A1Story20080204-48059.html |title=So Is This Joey Yung? |work=] |date=3 February 2008 |access-date=6 February 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080207024802/http://www.asiaone.com/Just+Woman/News/Celebrities/Story/A1Story20080204-48059.html |archive-date=7 February 2008 }}</ref> Police requested ]s to stamp out all local traces of the as yet unclassified "offensive material". Related discussion threads were progressively deleted.<ref name=Shanghai>{{cite web |url=http://www.shanghaidaily.com/sp/article/2008/200801/20080131/article_347440.htm |title=Alleged HK celebrity sex photos create a stir|author=Lydia Chen|work=] |date=31 January 2008|access-date=8 February 2008}}</ref> The police retrieved the ]es of more than 30 Internet users who allegedly posted photographs.<ref name=Shanghai/> | |||
At 12:30 p.m. on ], a higher resolution photograph appeared on the Internet. Journals noted the uncanny resemblance to Cecilia Cheung, noting her physical features and her distinctive tattoo set.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://english.rednet.cn/c/2008/02/04/1435856.htm|title=Hong Kong stars slam nude photos|publisher=REDNET.CN|date=4 February 2008|accessdate=2008-02-05}}</ref> The photographs became the talk of the town, and local ] became saturated as a result. A low-resolution sequence (photos 4 to 7) of Chen with a female resembling Chung wearing a bikini at the start of the sequence appeared at 3 p.m.; a photograph of Cecilia Cheung standing in a bathroom with her back facing the camera appeared at 6 p.m.<ref>{{cite news|title="Racy photos scandal"|publisher=]|date=30 January 2008}}</ref> Journals established that the photographs were taken inside Chen's residence by comparing the backgrounds with known video footage.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ent.xmnext.com/star/2008/01/30/1037989.html|title=张柏芝卷入陈冠希艳照门 网上惊现疑似裸照|publisher=xinmin.cn|date=]|accessdate=2008-02-06|language=Simplified Chinese}}</ref> Nevertheless, Cheung's solicitors denounced the upload as a "cruel, immoral and irresponsible act".<ref name=chinapress/> The police and photographic experts, who examined the images involving the first three female celebrities, said the photos were unlikely to have been composites.<ref name=joey>{{cite web|url=http://www.asiaone.com/Just%2BWoman/News/Celebrities/Story/A1Story20080204-48059.html|title=So Is This Joey Yung?|publisher=The Electric New Paper|date=3 February 2008|accessdate=2008-02-06}}</ref> | |||
{{Quote box |quoted=true |bgcolor=#FFFFF0 |salign=center |width=30em |quote=At this time I am not able to discuss matters related to the case, but I do feel it is my obligation to accept full responsibility and take action to help both the victims and those associated with them to heal their wounds.<br> | |||
On ], a forum user leaked hundreds more photographs in defiance of the police. The uploader, dubbed by the public as "Kira" with reference to the protagonist in the ''] "]"'' <ref name="kira">The name "Kira" is a reference to the main character in the manga '']'', whose real identity is unknown to the public but whose continued vigilantist acts and defiance against the police were admired by certain members of the public.</ref>, stated he was not in Hong Kong, and promised to release a 32-minute video the next day.<ref name="batgwa1">{{cite web | |||
In this regard, I plead with everyone to please stop forwarding the images on the Internet. Furthermore, to completely rid the images from your computer... |source=Edison Chen, as posted to his blog<ref name=edcblog>{{cite web |url=http://www.clotinc.com/blogs/public/edc |title=Edison Chen's blog |publisher=CLOT|access-date=4 February 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080206204707/http://www.clotinc.com/blogs/public/edc|archive-date=6 February 2008}}</ref>}} | |||
|url = http://batgwa.com/story.php?id=581 | |||
After the exposure of the eighth photograph, Chen quietly left Hong Kong and flew to ].<ref name=cecilia>{{cite web |url=http://www.asiaone.com/News/Latest%2BNews/Showbiz/Story/A1Story20080205-48346.html|author=Chang May Choon |title=Is this Cecilia?|work=] |date=2 February 2008|access-date=10 February 2008}}</ref> On 4 February, Chen released a 90-second video clip in English<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=io9n4XwJQG0 |title=Edison Chen 陳冠希 talks about photo scandal |publisher=YouTube|date=4 February 2008|access-date=4 February 2008}}</ref> in which he took responsibility and apologised to those who may have been affected by the posting of photographs.<ref name=apologises/> | |||
|title = 'Edison's Conquests' Sex Photos - Dozens More Leaked | |||
|publisher = batgwa.com | |||
|date = 7 February 2008 | |||
|accessdate = 2008-02-07 | |||
}}</ref> | |||
On 6 February, a forum user leaked hundreds more photographs in defiance of the police. The uploader, dubbed by the public as "Kira",<ref name="kira">"Kira" is a reference to a vigilante who is the protagonist in the manga '']'', whose real identity is unknown to the public but whose continued acts and defiance against the police were admired by certain members of the public.</ref> promised to release a 32-minute video the next day.<ref name="batgwa1">{{cite web | |||
On ], three pictures of a girl/young woman showering appeared on the Internet. The subject was rapidly identified as 18 year old Vincy Yeung (楊永晴), Edison's girlfriend and niece of ] (Chairman of EEG).<ref name=Vincy>{{cite web | |||
|url = http://batgwa.com/story.php?id=581 | |||
|url =http://news.sina.com/oth/phoenixtv/502-104-103-108/2008-02-09/19102658661.html |title="Racy pictures scandal out of control - Vincy's involvement infuriates father" (艷照門”事件失控 楊永晴遭毒手楊受成大怒)|publisher=Phoenix Television (via Sina.com)|date=8 February 2008|language=Traditional Chinese}}</ref> The police confirmed these three images were part of the set of 1,300 photographs seized. Having said there were only six victims, the police explained the appearance of a seventh, saying that her photographs had been erroneously grouped with one of the other females. | |||
|title = 'Edison's Conquests' Sex Photos – Dozens More Leaked | |||
|publisher = batgwa.com | |||
|date = 7 February 2008 | |||
|access-date = 7 February 2008 | |||
|url-status = dead | |||
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080208060301/http://batgwa.com/story.php?id=581 | |||
|archive-date = 8 February 2008 | |||
}}</ref> Two days later, three pictures of a young woman showering appeared on the Internet. The subject was rapidly identified as 18-year-old Vincy Yeung, Chen's girlfriend and niece of ], chairman of EEG.<ref name=Vincy>{{cite web|url=http://news.sina.com/oth/phoenixtv/502-104-103-108/2008-02-09/19102658661.html|title="Racy pictures scandal out of control – Vincy's involvement infuriates father" (艷照門"事件失控 楊永晴遭毒手楊受成大怒)|publisher=] (via Sina.com)|date=8 February 2008|language=zh|access-date=11 February 2008|archive-date=10 February 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120210170152/http://news.sina.com/oth/phoenixtv/502-104-103-108/2008-02-09/19102658661.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> The police confirmed these three images were among the 1,300 photographs known to them. Having said there were only six participants, the police explained the appearance of a seventh, saying that her photographs had been erroneously grouped with one of the other females. | |||
Gillian Chung was the first starlet to make a public appearance. After a New Year celebration with fans on 11 February, she delivered a brief statement to the press in which she apologised for the hurt caused to those around her.<ref name=twins>{{cite web |url=http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=12&art_id=61393&sid=17552751&con_type=3&d_str=20080212&sear_year=2008 |title=Twins star apologizes to her fans |author=Damon Pang |work=The Standard |date=12 February 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080215115026/http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=12&art_id=61393&sid=17552751&con_type=3&d_str=20080212&sear_year=2008 |archive-date=15 February 2008 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://hk.news.yahoo.com/080211/12/2omv3.html |title=Naive and silly old me (阿嬌:以前很天真及傻) |work=] |date=11 February 2008 |access-date=11 February 2008 |language=zh |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20080212053739/http://hk.news.yahoo.com/080211/12/2omv3.html |archive-date=12 February 2008 }}</ref><ref>「... 今次這件事,對我同身邊的人,都造成了好大的困擾同傷害(停頓數秒)。我承認以前係好天真同好傻,但係現在已經長大了。好多謝公司、多謝家人,及多謝朋友的眷顧及支持;今次這件事,對於社會帶來了好大的影響,我都深感抱歉,在未來日子裏,我會繼續努力工作,同積極面對我的人生。多謝傳媒的關心,以及要多謝一班對我不離不棄的fans,多謝。」<br />(English translation: "... This incident has caused a lot of turmoil and harm to me and people around me. I admit that I was so naive and silly in the past, but now I have grown up. I thank my company, my family and my friends for their blessing and support. This incident has caused a lot of effects to the society which I deeply regret. In the future, I will continue to work hard, and face my life positively."{{cite web |url=http://www.mingpaonews.com/20080212/gaa1.htm |title=I was So Silly, So Naive|work=Ming Pao|date=12 February 2008|access-date=12 February 2008|language=zh}}</ref> Emperor sought closure by stating that neither it nor any of its artists would be making any further statement about the incident.<ref name=twins/> The press conference drew mixed response from the media and the public.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.zonaeuropa.com/200802b.brief.htm#007 |title=The week's press cuttings |publisher=Zona Europa|issue=Week 2, February 2008}}</ref> An ''Apple Daily'' commentary was particularly scathing about the hypocrisy of Chung and of her management company for only obliquely hinting at her "licentiousness".<ref name=hypocrisy>{{cite web|url=http://www.zonaeuropa.com/200802b.brief.htm#005|title=The Biggest Lesson of 'Sex Photos Gate' is the Exposure of Hypocrisy|work=Apple Daily via ]|date=12 February 2008|access-date=15 January 2008}} {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080214094833/http://www1.appledaily.atnext.com/template/apple/art_main.cfm?iss_id=20080212&sec_id=4104&subsec_id=15333&art_id=10744454&cat_id=32&coln_id=93 |date=14 February 2008 }} {{in lang|zh}}</ref> On 14 February, two new nude photographs surfaced – one featuring an unidentified woman ] Chen, and another showed a woman lying on a bed.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://the-sun.on.cc/channels/news/20080215/20080215022707_0000.html |title=Battle resumes after 5-day respite, Black-hand toys with Big Brother (休戰五日 再發床照 疑顏穎思 – 黑手明玩一哥)|language=zh|work=The Sun Daily |date= 15 February 2008}}</ref> | |||
On ], two new photographs surfaced. One photograph featured an unidentified woman ] Edison, and another showed ] lying on a bed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://the-sun.on.cc/channels/news/20080215/20080215022707_0000.html |title=Battle resumes after 5 day respite, Black-hand toys with Big Brother (休戰五日 再發床照 疑顏穎思 - 黑手明玩一哥)|language=Traditional Chinese|publisher= The Sun Daily|date= 15 February 2008}}</ref> | |||
{{Quote box |quoted=true |bgcolor=#FFFFF0 |salign=center |width=30em |quote=...society as a whole has been affected by this. In this regard, I am deeply saddened. I would like now to apologize to all the people for all the suffering that has been caused and the problems that have arisen from this. I would like to apologize to all the ladies and to all their families for any harm or hurt that they have been feeling...Most importantly, I would like to say sorry to all the people of Hong Kong.|source=Edison Chen, press conference 21 February 2008<ref name=transcript>{{cite web |url=http://news.sina.com.hk/cgi-bin/nw/show.cgi/32/1/1/645837/1.html |title=Edison Chen statement |publisher=Sina Corp|date=22 February 2008|access-date=22 February 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080226072925/http://news.sina.com.hk/cgi-bin/nw/show.cgi/32/1/1/645837/1.html|archive-date=26 February 2008}}</ref>|Edison Chen, press conference, 21 February 2008}}Chen returned to Hong Kong on 21 February, and immediately held a press conference asking for forgiveness and announcing his indefinite departure from the Hong Kong entertainment industry. Chen confirmed that the photographs belonged to him and were private, and stated that they were obtained without his consent and then made public.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://batgwa.com/story.php?id=635|title=Edison Chen: I Took Photos, I'm Sorry, I Quit Showbiz|publisher=batgwa.com|date=21 February 2008|access-date=21 February 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080223114737/http://www.batgwa.com/story.php?id=635|archive-date=23 February 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref> His lawyer emphasised that reproduction whether in whole or in part would constitute ].<ref name=sorry/> | |||
===Statistics=== | |||
This table breaks down the photographs by subject: | |||
{| class="wikitable" | |||
!Person Involved | |||
!Names per source | |||
!Photo count as of<br><small>10 Feb 2008</small><ref>{{cite web|url=http://the-sun.on.cc/channels/news/20080210/20080210024013_0000.html|title=Racy photo's keep appearing, 460 more X-factor is increasing (阿嬌柏芝BoBo 床照不止 460張連環播淫褻升級)|publisher=The Sun Daily|date=10 February 2008|accessdate=2008-02-10|language=Traditional Chinese}}</ref> | |||
|- | |||
| ] || 鍾欣桐 || 104 | |||
|- | |||
| ] || 陳文媛 || 116 | |||
|- | |||
| ] || 張栢芝 || 143 | |||
|- | |||
| Rachel Ngan Wing-sze || 顏穎思 ||11 | |||
|- | |||
| Mandy Chen Yu-ju || 陳育嬬 || 40 | |||
|- | |||
| Candice Chan Si-wai || 陳思慧 || 48 | |||
|- | |||
| Vincy Yeung Wing-ching || 楊永晴 || 3 | |||
|- | |||
| colspan="2" | '''Total''' || 465 | |||
|} | |||
Chen was questioned by police for several days consecutively, and '']'' revealed that a cache of computer disks and other storage devices containing in excess of 10,000 images were found in Chen's residence. Media reported that five "new" celebrities had been identified by police, who gave only cryptic descriptions.<ref name=newfaces>{{cite web |url=http://hk.news.yahoo.com/080226/60/2pism.html |title=Two new faces seen on new nude photos (新裸照驚見二铫女藝人) |work=] |date=27 February 2008 |access-date=27 February 2008 |language=zh |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080301211006/http://hk.news.yahoo.com/080226/60/2pism.html |archive-date=1 March 2008 }}</ref><ref name=turmoil>{{cite web|url=http://chinanews.sina.com/ent/2008/0226/20042567536.html |title=Indecent photo turmoil continues, twelve victims identified (不雅照事件風波不斷 相關受害女星至少12人) |publisher=Sina.com |date=26 February 2008 |access-date=27 February 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080302184153/http://chinanews.sina.com/ent/2008/0226/20042567536.html |archive-date=2 March 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Investigations were said to have been hampered by Chen's caution, and by the lack of co-operation of the "new" female victims: some had left town, and one had already publicly denied her involvement.<ref name=newfaces/> Chen denied that he had been blackmailed.<ref name=newfaces/> | |||
===Bubbling under=== | |||
On ], as Edison entered his sixth consecutive day of police interrogation, '']'' revealed that a cache of computer disks and other storage devices containing in excess of ten thousand images were found from the search of Chen's residence. Five "new" celebrities were identified by police, who only referred to them cryptically as two television entertainers, a model whose career had moved overseas, and two singer-actresses,<ref name=newfaces>{{cite web | url=http://hk.news.yahoo.com/080226/60/2pism.html | title=Two new faces seen on new nude photos (新裸照驚見二铫女藝人) | work=Sing Tao Daily | date=] ] | accessdate=2008-02-27 | language=Traditional Chinese}}</ref> of which one is from Taiwan.<ref name=turmoil>{{cite web | url=http://chinanews.sina.com/ent/2008/0226/20042567536.html | title=Indecent photo turmoil continues, twelve victims identified (不雅照事件風波不斷 相關受害女星至少12人) | work=Sina.com | date=] ] | accessdate=2008-02-27}}</ref> Investigations were apparently hampered by Chen's caution, and by the lack of cooperation of the "new" female victims: some had left town; one had already publicly denied her involvement.<ref name=newfaces/> Cecilia Cheung was also reportedly uncooperative.<ref name=turmoil/> While the police suspected as yet hidden motives, Chen denied that he had been blackmailed. <ref name=newfaces/> | |||
Over the course of the two-week period, a total of over a hundred images each of Gillian Chung, ], Candice Chan, and Cecilia Cheung fellating him were exposed, as well as Chen performing ] to Chung; there were also approximately another hundred nude photos featuring various others, namely Mandy Chen, Rachel Ngan, ]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://theblemish.com/2008/02/maggie-q-pics-released-as-ninth-suspect-arrested/#!DIG5l|title=Corrected: Maggie Q pics released as ninth suspect arrested|website=theblemish.com|access-date=19 April 2018}}</ref>{{Unreliable source?|date=October 2018}} and Vincy Yeung, who was photographed while taking a bath. | |||
==Police actions== | ==Police actions== | ||
===Hong Kong=== | ===Hong Kong=== | ||
]- |
]-authorised computer store next to Elite Multimedia]] | ||
On 31 January 2008, an unemployed man identified as 29-year-old Chung Yik-tin (鍾亦天) was arrested for allegedly uploading one image;<ref name=chugani>{{cite news|page= A2|title="Public Eye" -Porn pictures: the big unanswered question ... |author=Michael Chugani|work=] |date=6 February 2008|url=http://www.scmp.com/article/625678/public-eye|access-date=28 February 2013}}</ref> 12 pictures were found on his computer. The next day he was arraigned but denied bail because he was suspected of blackmailing the actor and actresses.<ref name="standard0102">{{cite web |url=http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=30&art_id=61047&sid=17388462&con_type=1 |title=Suspect arrested in Internet nude photo escapade |work=The Standard |date=1 February 2008 |access-date=4 February 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080205114504/http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=30&art_id=61047&sid=17388462&con_type=1 |archive-date=5 February 2008 }}</ref> Chung Yik-tin spent ] in detention. After investigating the connection between the suspect and artists, the police were satisfied that blackmail was not involved.<ref name=sing/><ref name="standard0102"/> Chung was unconditionally released from detention on 15 February, and charges against him were dropped.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.3on9.net/discuz/archiver/?tid-52478.html |title=鍾亦天發表聲明稱重獲自由感高興 |publisher=3on9.net }}</ref> | |||
China News Service (CNS) reported that more than 100 police officers had been sent to investigate the case,<ref name=Shanghai/> although Assistant Commissioner of Police (Crime) ] later declared that a team consisted of 19 officers from the Commercial Crime Bureau.<ref name=sing/> | |||
On 2 February, police arrested four men and two women in connection with the distribution of the photographs. Of the six, three men and a woman were released on ]20,000 (US$2,560) bail and ordered to report back to the police in eight weeks.<ref name="batgwa.com1">{{cite web|url=http://batgwa.com/story.php?id=568|title='Edison's Conquests' Sex Photos – Hundreds More Images Seized|publisher=batgwa.com|date=2 February 2008|access-date=4 February 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080204132907/http://batgwa.com/story.php?id=568|archive-date=4 February 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref> On 4 February, a 29-year-old man became the eighth person to be detained in connection with the disseminating of nude photos;<ref name="standard0402" /> 23-year-old Sze Ho-Chun (史可雋) was also arrested. He was charged with "dishonest use of computers with criminal intent", which has a maximum penalty of five years imprisonment. Sze appeared in Eastern Court on 5 February,<ref name=sing>{{cite news|title=(Entire front page)|work=] |date=5 February 2008|language=zh}}</ref><ref name=apologises>{{cite web |url=http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=12&art_id=61190&sid=17445450&con_type=1 |title=Star apologizes to six artistes in 1,300 racy Internet photos |work=The Standard |date=5 February 2008 |access-date=5 February 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080206221332/http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=12&art_id=61190&sid=17445450&con_type=1 |archive-date=6 February 2008 }}</ref> where he denied the charge and was released on HK$50,000 bail. The case was adjourned to 22 February.<ref name=5_Feb>{{cite web |url=http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=30&art_id=61211&sid=17457495&con_type=1 |title=Accused bailed as more racy photos surface |work=The Standard |date=6 February 2008 |access-date=6 February 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080208022328/http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=30&art_id=61211&sid=17457495&con_type=1 |archive-date=8 February 2008 }}</ref> | |||
The Hong Kong police moved on all ]s to stamp out all local traces of the "offensive material" (which had not yet even been classified). The police held a meeting with more than 200 people responsible for major Hong Kong Web sites and BBS communities to urge them to delete the pictures on appearance "as they have the responsibility to stop crimes". Related discussion threads were progressively deleted<ref name=Shanghai>{{cite web|url=http://www.shanghaidaily.com/sp/article/2008/200801/20080131/article_347440.htm |title=Alleged HK celebrity sex photos create a stir|author=Lydia Chen|publisher=Shanghai Daily|date=31 January 2008|accessdate= 2008-02-08}}</ref> CNS reported the Hong Kong media as saying that police ordered several locally registered Web sites and BBS management firms to submit information about their clients, and had retrieved the ]es of more than 30 Internet users who allegedly posted photographs.<ref name=Shanghai/> | |||
Assistant Commissioner Wong said the source of the pictures had been traced, but he would not confirm reports stating that they had been taken from Chen's computer. He added that the authenticity of the photographs was no longer in question. Wong also said of the six women found in the photographs, four were local celebrities and two were unknown to the police. None of the women were named.<ref name=sing /> Wong was certain that no overseas artists were involved.<ref name=apologises /> He said that whilst it was not a crime to transfer the pictures to friends, those who had posted the images to Internet web pages could be in breach of the law.<ref name=sing /><ref name=apologises /> On 5 February, as another of the suspects was released on HK$50,000 bail, six more related photographs surfaced on the Internet.<ref name=5_Feb/> In the early hours on Chinese New Year's Eve, several hundred more photographs appeared on the Internet; there were two new faces.<ref name=blemishupdate>{{cite web|url=http://theblemish.com/2008/01/edison-chen-has-sex-pictures/ |title=Update: Edison Chen has sex pictures|publisher=The Blemish|date=30 January 2008}}</ref> | |||
On ] ], an unemployed man identified as 29 year-old Chung Yik-tin (鍾亦天) was arrested for allegedly uploading one image.<ref name=chugani>{{cite news|Page= A2|title="Public Eye" -Porn pictures: the big unanswered question... |author=Michael Chugani|publisher=South China Morning Post|date=6 February 2008}}</ref> Twelve pictures were found on his computer. The next day he was ] but denied bail because he was suspected of blackmailing the actor and actresses. The case would reconvene eight weeks later,<ref name="standard0102">{{cite web|url=http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=30&art_id=61047&sid=17388462&con_type=1|title=Suspect arrested in Internet nude photo escapade|publisher=The Standard|date=]|accessdate=2008-02-04}}</ref> and was destined to spend ] in detention. After investigating the connection between the suspect and artists, the police were satisfied that blackmail was not involved.<ref name=sing/><ref name="standard0102"/> | |||
Arrest number ten occurred on 10 February.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ent.sina.com.cn/s/h/2008-02-12/09251908338.shtml |title=One more arrest amidst continuing rapid spread of artistes' racy photos (艺人不雅照网络急速传播 又一网民发放被捕)|publisher=Sina.com|date=12 February 2008|access-date= 12 February 2008}}</ref> Kwok Chun-wai, a 24-year-old logistics clerk, had allegedly posted the link to a local discussion forum after uploading a compressed file containing over a hundred images to a site in ]. Kwok was released on HK$10,000 bail.<ref name=imminent>{{cite web |url=http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=30&art_id=61433&sid=17567136&con_type=1 |title=Suspect granted bail as Edison's return imminent |author=Damon Pang & Nikkita Lau |work=The Standard |date=13 February 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080214173124/http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=30&art_id=61433&sid=17567136&con_type=1 |archive-date=14 February 2008 }}</ref> He pleaded guilty to three counts of publishing an obscene article.<ref>{{cite news |title=Clerk who posted sex pictures alters plea|work=South China Morning Post |page =C1|date=4 July 2008|url=http://www.scmp.com/article/643938/clerk-who-posted-sex-pictures-alters-plea|access-date=28 February 2013}}</ref> On 24 July 2008, he was sentenced to two months in prison, suspended for two years.<ref>{{cite news|author= Lai Ying-kit|title= Clerk who posted sex photos avoids jail time| work=South China Morning Post|date= 25 July 2008|url=http://www.scmp.com/article/646490/clerk-who-posted-sex-photos-avoids-jail-time|access-date=28 February 2013}}</ref> | |||
On ], police arrested four men and two women in connection with the distribution of the photographs. Of the six, three men and a woman were released on ]20,000 bail and must report back to the police in eight weeks.<ref name="batgwa.com1">{{cite web|url=http://batgwa.com/story.php?id=568|title='Edison's Conquests' Sex Photos - Hundreds More Images Seized|publisher=batgwa.com|date=2 February 2008|accessdate=2008-02-04}}</ref> The police revealed that during 2007, Edison Chen brought his computer to a shop for repairs. Employees who discovered over 1,300 intimate photographs may have secretly copied these files.<ref name="batgwa.com2">{{cite web|url=http://batgwa.com/story.php?id=569|title='Edison's Conquests' Sex Photos - Computer Shop Searched|publisher=batgwa.com|date=3 February 2008|accessdate=2008-02-04}}</ref> | |||
On ], a 29-year-old man became the eighth person to be detained in connection with the Internet posting of nude photos.<ref name="standard0402" /> On the same day, 23-year-old Sze Ho-Chun (史可隽) was arrested in Central, and charged with "dishonest use of computers with criminal intent", which has a maximum penalty of five years imprisonment. The man appeared in Eastern Court on ],<ref name=apologises>{{cite web|url=http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=12&art_id=61190&sid=17445450&con_type=1|title=Star apologizes to six artistes in 1,300 racy Internet photos|publisher=The Standard|date=]|accessdate=2008-02-05}}</ref><ref name=sing>{{cite news|title=(Entire front page)|publisher=]|date=]|language=Traditional Chinese}}</ref> where he denied the charge and was released on HK$50,000 bail. The case has been adjourned to ].<ref name=5_Feb>{{cite web|url=http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=30&art_id=61211&sid=17457495&con_type=1|title=Accused bailed as more racy photos surface|publisher=The Standard|date=6 February 2008|accessdate=2008-02-06}}</ref> | |||
Assistant Commissioner Vincent Wong said the source of the pictures had been traced, but he would not confirm reports stating that they had been taken from Chen's computer. He added that the authenticity of the photographs was no longer in question. Wong also said of the six women found in the photographs, four were local celebrities; two were not known to the police. None of the women were named.<ref name=sing /> Wong said he was certain that no overseas artists were involved.<ref name=apologises /> Ignoring copyright laws, he said that it was not a crime to transfer the pictures to friends, but those who had posted the images to Internet Web pages would be in breach of the Hong Kong law. His statement has prompted some people to solicit for or send the picture files to their "friends" en masse by email.<ref name=sing /><ref name=apologises /> | |||
On ], as another one of the suspects was released on HK$50,000 bail, six more related photographs surfaced on the Internet.<ref name=5_Feb>{{cite web|url=http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=30&art_id=61211&sid=17457495&con_type=1|title=Accused bailed as more racy photos surface|publisher=The Standard|date=6 February 2008|accessdate=2008-02-06}}</ref> In the early hours on Chinese New Year's eve, several hundred more photographs with two new faces appeared on the Internet.<ref name=blemishupdate>{{cite web|url=http://theblemish.com/2008/01/edison-chen-has-sex-pictures/ |title=Update: Edison Chen has sex pictures|publisher=The Blemish|date=30 January 2008}}</ref> | |||
The police arrested a tenth person in connection with the case on ]. Named as Kwok Chun-wai, a 24 year-old logistics clerk, he was charged with distribution of pornography.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ent.sina.com.cn/s/h/2008-02-12/09251908338.shtml |title=One more arrest amidst continuing rapid spread of artistes' racy photos (艺人不雅照网络急速传播 又一网民发放被捕)|publisher=Sina.com|date=12 February 2008|accessdate= 2008-02-12}}</ref> He had allegedly posted the link to a local discussion forum after uploading a compressed file containing over a hundred images to a site in Cyprus. Kwok was released on HK$10,000 bail and was required to report to the police three times a week.<ref name=imminent> {{cite web|url=http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=30&art_id=61433&sid=17567136&con_type=1 |title=Suspect granted bail as Edison's return imminent|author=Damon Pang & Nikkita Lau|publisher= ''The Standard''|date=13 February 2008}}</ref> | |||
===Mainland China=== | ===Mainland China=== | ||
Web sites on the mainland are usually more sensitive to political issues than to pornography, and for several weeks major sites such as ] permitted the images to be disseminated |
Web sites on the mainland are usually more sensitive to political issues than to pornography, and for several weeks major sites such as ] permitted the images to be disseminated.<ref>{{cite news|title=Netizens move to mainland as discussions killed off|work=] |date=1 February 2008|url=http://orientaldaily.on.cc/archive/20080201/new/new_a04cnt.html|access-date=12 March 2013 |language=zh}}</ref> During this time, photographs were also posted on the popular mainland China chat room, ], and had been viewed nearly 20 million times a day.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scmp.com/article/627133/world-soaks-scandal|title=World soaks up the scandal|work=South China Morning Post |date=22 February 2008|access-date=22 February 2008}} (non-free source)</ref> Around 20 February however, mainland sites took action to prevent access to the photos. | ||
A crackdown began in |
A crackdown began in neighbouring Guangdong province on the manufacturing, selling and spreading the CD-ROMs of the celebrity photos,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.china.org.cn/english/government/243519.htm|title= Sex photos a hot buy in Guangzhou|work=], HK Edition|date=22 February 2008| access-date=22 February 2008}}</ref> which sold "like hotcakes" in Shenzhen.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.scmp.com/article/626967/sex-photos-sell-hot-cakes-shenzhen|title=Sex photos sell like hot cakes in Shenzhen|work=South China Morning Post |date= 21 February 2008|access-date=12 March 2013}}</ref> Police arrested 10 people suspected of the production in ].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-02/20/content_7636527.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080226022614/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-02/20/content_7636527.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=26 February 2008|title=China police apprehend 10 people over HK nude celebrity photos|agency=]|date=20 February 2008|access-date=21 February 2008}}</ref> Police in Beijing announced on 21 February that it would act to stop the circulation of the photographs. Officials declared that showing the photos to friends or posting them on blogs or online forums, even without ], could be punishable by detention for up to 15 days; transmission of more than 200 of the photos as a package on the internet would be met with criminal prosecution.<ref name=beijing>{{cite news |url=http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=13&art_id=61919&sid=17710300&con_type=1&d_str=20080222&sear_year=2008 |title=Beijing draws line as Taiwanese crack down |work=The Standard |date=22 February 2008 |access-date=22 February 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090211000242/http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=13&art_id=61919&sid=17710300&con_type=1&d_str=20080222&sear_year=2008 |archive-date=11 February 2009 }}</ref> | ||
On 21 February, police in Beijing announced it would act to stop the circulation of the photographs. Officials declared that showing the photos to friends or posting them on blogs or online forums, even without profit motive, could be punishable by detention for up to 15 days; transmission of more than 200 of the photos as a package on the internet would be met with criminal prosecution.<ref name=beijing>{{cite news|url=http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=13&art_id=61919&sid=17710300&con_type=1&d_str=20080222&sear_year=2008|title=Beijing draws line as Taiwanese crack down|publisher='']''|date=February 22, 2008| accessdate=2008-02-22}}</ref> | |||
===Taiwan=== | ===Taiwan=== | ||
A |
A Taiwanese man aged 24, Huang Wei-lun, was arrested in ] on suspicion of posting the explicit photos and videos in his blog and instructing net surfers how to download the images.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5gXyLYfldmD2Fu41RmVQPw0ltAbXg |title=Taiwan man nabbed over HK celebrity nude photos |access-date=21 February 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080225174159/http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5gXyLYfldmD2Fu41RmVQPw0ltAbXg |archive-date=25 February 2008 }}</ref> Police in ] warned of the two-year penalty for selling pornographic CDs, and raided shops and arcades where discs of Edison Chen's photographs have been selling slowly, for {{currency|100|TWD}}. One observer remarked that young people did not buy discs as they can get the photographs easily from the internet.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nownews.com/2008/02/24/138-2235620.htm |title=DVD店賣陳冠希淫照光碟 生意差僅售出7張 |publisher=Now News |date=24 February 2008 |access-date=12 March 2013 |language=zh |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090227042323/http://nownews.com/2008/02/24/138-2235620.htm |archive-date=27 February 2009 }}</ref> | ||
==Legal issues== | ==Legal issues== | ||
===Freedom of speech=== | ===Freedom of speech=== | ||
On 2 February, Commissioner of Police ] warned that anyone with the pictures on their computer ''could be'' in breach of the law, even if there was no record of distribution. This led to an immediate objection by lawmaker "Long Hair" ], who led a protest of about two dozen people outside police headquarters in ]. They accused the police of sowing confusion and creating an atmosphere of "]" among ]s. Leung urged Commissioner Tang to clarify whether merely keeping the pictures violated the law.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://longhair.hk/|title = Longhair protests the Hong Kong Police Department for abusing the power to arrest 4 Hong Kong residents for forwarding the photos (抗議警方濫捕4名網民!)|publisher = Leung Kwok Hung|date = 3 February 2008|access-date=5 February 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080208140605/http://www.longhair.hk/|archive-date=8 February 2008 | |||
|language=zh}}</ref> Some opinions disagree on distributing the photos.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.sina.com.hk/cgi-bin/nw/show.cgi/2/1/1/626198/1.html|title=新聞|website=香港新浪|access-date=19 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090312065012/http://news.sina.com.hk/cgi-bin/nw/show.cgi/2/1/1/626198/1.html|archive-date=12 March 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gospelherald.com/template/view.htm?code=soc&id=9354 |title=明光社就網上藝人情慾照發出十點聲明- 基督日報 |publisher=Gospelherald.com |date=15 July 2008}}</ref> | |||
|url = http://longhair.hk/ | |||
|title = Longhair protests the Hong Kong Police Department for abusing the power to arrest 4 Hong Kong residents for forwarding the photos (抗議警方濫捕4名網民!) | |||
|publisher = Leung Kwok Hung | |||
|date = 3 February 2008 | |||
|accessdate = 2008-02-05 | |||
|language=Traditional Chinese | |||
"混淆視聽轉、轉移視線,製造網上恐怖氣氛"}}</ref> | |||
===Selective application of the law=== | ===Selective application of the law=== | ||
The denial of bail for Chung Yik-tin sparked controversy over the subjective application of the law. Legislator ] accused the police of humiliating a suspect by their excessively hasty actions.<ref name=3indecent/> The police's selectiveness in this case, as compared with previous cases of pornography distribution on the Internet, was also the focus of public attention.<ref>{{cite news|url = http://www.rthk.org.hk/rthk/radio1/accountability/20080202.html|script-title=zh:星期六問責: 鄧竟成訪問|publisher = ]|language=zh|date=3 February 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080314211117/http://www.rthk.org.hk/rthk/radio1/accountability/20080202.html|archive-date=14 March 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url = http://news.sina.com/sinacn/202-000-103-107/2008-02-03/1618493487.html|script-title = zh:香港警方稱藏淫照也有罪 明星獲偏袒引爭議|publisher = Sina Beijing|language = zh|date = 3 February 2008|access-date = 5 February 2008|archive-date = 10 December 2010|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101210193402/http://news.sina.com/sinacn/202-000-103-107/2008-02-03/1618493487.html|url-status = dead}}</ref> The local Chairman of the ] and legislator ] said that it was inevitable that police would apply the law selectively, for it would be impractical to take action against every person who had committed an offence in Hong Kong.<ref name=kidgloves>{{cite web | |||
The police's selectiveness in this case, as compared with previous cases of pornography distribution on the Internet has also been the focus of attention.<ref>{{cite news | |||
|url = http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=11&art_id=61583&sid=17606869&con_type=1&d_str=20080215&sear_year=2008 | |||
|url = http://www.rthk.org.hk/rthk/radio1/accountability/20070127.html | |||
|title = Lam treats scandal with kid gloves | |||
|title = 星期六問責: 鄧竟成訪問 | |||
|work = The Standard | |||
|publisher = ] | |||
|date = 15 February 2008 | |||
|language=Traditional Chinese | |||
|url-status = dead | |||
|date = 3 February 2008 | |||
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090211005101/http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=11&art_id=61583&sid=17606869&con_type=1&d_str=20080215&sear_year=2008 | |||
}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | |||
|archive-date = 11 February 2009 | |||
|url = http://news.sina.com/sinacn/202-000-103-107/2008-02-03/1618493487.html | |||
}}</ref><ref name=nyt>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/13/business/worldbusiness/13internet.html?_r=1&em&ex=1203051600&en=5e5d33c170b9b534&ei=5087%0A&oref=slogin |title=Internet Sex Video Case Stirs Free-Speech Issues in Hong Kong |access-date=16 February 2008 |last=Bradsher |first=Keith |date=13 February 2008 |work=]}}</ref> | |||
|title = 香港警方稱藏淫照也有罪 明星獲偏袒引爭議 | |||
|publisher = Sina Beijing | |||
|language=Chinese | |||
|date = 3 February 2008 | |||
}}</ref> ] said that police would commonly apply the law selectively, citing the difficulty of taking action against every person who had overstayed in Hong Kong. <ref name=kidgloves>{{cite web | |||
|url =http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=11&art_id=61583&sid=17606869&con_type=1&d_str=20080215&sear_year=2008 |title=Lam treats scandal with kid gloves|publisher=''The Standard''|date=February 15, 2008}}</ref> Similarly local Chairman of the ] said that it would not be practical for the police to ticket every traffic offender.<ref name=nyt/> | |||
Commentary in the newspaper ''Ming Pao'' also remarked on the widespread outrage about the perceived selective application of legal principles – that a person charged with an apparently minor offence being denied bail whilst two others, unnamed, with allegedly heavier involvement in the spread of the photographs were allowed out on bail.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mingpaonews.com/20080213/mra.htm|title=Legal bias in stars' nude photo incident (藝人裸照案 執法司法都有偏差)|work=] |date=13 February 2008|access-date=13 February 2008 |language=zh|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080214022009/http://www.mingpaonews.com/20080213/mra.htm|archive-date=14 February 2008}}</ref> A commentary in ''Apple Daily'' decried the "clear intimidation of netizens" by the police, and for arresting people without bringing the alleged main source and victim (Chen) for interrogation.<ref name=hypocrisy/> | |||
===Presumption of innocence=== | |||
The denial of bail for Chung Yik-tin sparked controversy over the subjective application of the law. ] (SCMP) columnist Tim Hamlett said the ] was an issue.<ref>{{cite news|title=Tim Hamlett's Hong Kong|Page= C2|publisher=South China Morning Post|date=6 February 2008}}</ref> Commentary in Ming Pao also remarked on the widespread outrage about the perceived selective application of legal principles - that a person charged with an apparently minor offense being denied bail whilst two others, unnamed, with allegedly heavier involvement in the spread of the photographs were allowed out on bail.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mingpaonews.com/20080213/mra.htm|title=Legal bias in stars' nude photo incident (藝人裸照案 執法司法都有偏差)|publisher= Ming Pao|date=13 February 2008|accessdate=2008-02-13 |language=Traditional Chinese | |||
}}</ref> A commentary in Apple Daily decried the "clear intimidation of netizens" by the police, and referred to the "hypocrisy in law enforcement" for arresting people without bringing the alleged main source and victim (Edison) for interrogation.<ref name=hypocrisy/> | |||
===Definition of " |
===Definition of "obscenity"=== | ||
While publishing an |
While publishing an "obscene" (淫褻) article carries a maximum sentence of 3 years, an "indecent" (不雅) article only carries a maximum sentence of 12 months.<ref>{{Cite journal |url= http://www.legislation.gov.hk/blis_ind.nsf/fb2d3fd8a4e2a3264825647c0030a9e1/79907874e5816c32c825648300294683?OpenDocument |title=Cap 390 s21: ''Prohibition on publishing obscene articles''|publisher=Hong Kong Government|date= 7 July 2000 }}</ref> ''Ming Pao'' revealed on 14 February that it had received interim classification from the ] (OAT) relating to five photographs it had submitted for opinion. Three of these photographs were classified as "indecent" while two were considered "obscene". The only photograph which was in circulation on 27 January, allegedly posted by Chung Yik-tin, was "indecent". Thus, the journal raised the question that Chung may have been charged with a wrong offence. Also, the law applies only after OAT's classification. Since the police arrested and charged Chung before classification, some viewed the arrest as unlawful. An assistant professor at the ] questioned whether an amended charge of "Publishing an Indecent Article" applied to photographs uploaded onto the Internet.<ref name=3indecent>{{cite news |title=Five photos assessed: 3 "indecent", 2 "obscene" (5裸照評級3 不雅2淫褻 |url=http://life.mingpao.com/cfm/dailynews3b.cfm?File=20080214/nalga/gaa1.txt |work=] |date=14 February 2008 |language=zh |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140203040555/http://life.mingpao.com/cfm/dailynews3b.cfm?File=20080214%2Fnalga%2Fgaa1.txt |archive-date=3 February 2014 }}</ref> | ||
== |
==Hearing and trial== | ||
After the exposure of the eighth photograph, Chen quietly left Hong Kong and flew to ] to be with his girlfriend Vincy.<ref name=cecilia>{{cite web|url=http://www.asiaone.com/News/Latest%2BNews/Showbiz/Story/A1Story20080205-48346.html|author=Chang May Choon|title=Is this Cecilia?|publisher=The Electric New Paper (via Google cache)|date=2 February 2008|accessdate=2008-02-10}}</ref> | |||
===Chen's |
===Chen's hearing=== | ||
Although Chen agreed to co-operate with the authorities, he refused to return to Hong Kong to give evidence in the trial. A team of four lawyers and a magistrate were thus flown out to ], Canada for a hearing beginning on 23 February 2009 at taxpayers' expense.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=21&art_id=78647&sid=22842870&con_type=1&d_str=20090224&sear_year=2009 |title=Chen to testify in camera |work=The Standard |date=24 February 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604120213/http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=21&art_id=78647&sid=22842870&con_type=1&d_str=20090224&sear_year=2009 |archive-date=4 June 2011 }}</ref> Legislator ] questioned the "extravagancy" of this hearing, and suggested there may be an easier and cheaper way to collect Chen's evidence.<ref>{{cite news|title=Canada hearing for Edison Chen case criticised |author=Yvonne Tsui & Petti Fong |page= A1|work=South China Morning Post |date=19 February 2009}}</ref> | |||
On ] ], Chen released a 90-second video clip in ] to the press<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=io9n4XwJQG0|title=Edison Chen 陳冠希 talks about photo scandal|publisher=YouTube|date=4 February 2008|accessdate=2008-02-04}}</ref> in which he apologised to those who may have been affected by the posting of photographs. He did not comment on the authenticity of the photos.<ref name=apologises/> | |||
During the hearing, which was presided over by ] Justice Elaine Adair, with ] Tong Man (唐文) as co-commissioner,<ref name=deleted>{{cite news| url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2009/02/25/2003436963 |title=Edison Chen testifies in stolen photos trial |work= ] |date=25 February 2009|access-date=11 March 2013}}</ref> Chen confirmed that Cecilia Cheung, Gillian Chung, Bobo Chan and Rachel Ngan were indeed involved.<ref name=shanghai>{{cite news|author=Lydia Chen |url=http://www.shanghaidaily.com/sp/article/2009/200902/20090225/article_392234.htm |title=Chen speaks out in sex-pix case |date=25 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090228060729/http://www.shanghaidaily.com/sp/article/2009/200902/20090225/article_392234.htm|archive-date=28 February 2009}}</ref> He testified that the photographs, taken from 2001 to 2006, were consensual, and were only shown to the women involved.<ref name=deleted/> He professed his "huge shock" at seeing the images on the Internet, citing that he had deleted the images before sending his computer in for repairs in summer of 2006.<ref name=shanghai/> | |||
{{Quotation|As of this evening, the police have made significant advances towards solving this malicious crime. As from the beginning I will continue to give the police my fullest cooperation to bring the perpetrators to justice. | |||
===Sentence=== | |||
At this time I am not able to discuss matters related to the case, but I do feel it is my obligation to accept full responsibility and take action to help both the victims and those associated with them to heal their wounds. | |||
Computer technician Sze Ho-chun was convicted on 13 May 2009 of three counts of obtaining access to a computer with dishonest intent, and received a custodial sentence of eight and a half months.<ref name="smh.com.au"/> However, there was no evidence that he uploaded the pictures to the Internet.<ref>{{cite news|title='Killer' on loose as techie jailed for Edison pics |first=Diana |last=Lee |work=The Standard |date=14 May 2009 |url=http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=11&art_id=82127&sid=23844310&con_type=1&d_str=20090514&sear_year=2009 |access-date=11 March 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019140813/http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=11&art_id=82127&sid=23844310&con_type=1&d_str=20090514&sear_year=2009 |archive-date=19 October 2013 }}</ref> | |||
==Impact and consequences== | |||
In this regard, I plead with everyone to please stop forwarding the images on the Internet. Furthermore, to completely rid the images from your computer. This is a small step that each one of us can take to help the innocent rebuild their lives. The priority now is for all of us to pitch in and help those in need.<ref name=edcblog>{{cite web|url=http://www.clotinc.com/blogs/public/edc|title=Edison Chen's blog|publisher=CLOT|accessdate=2008-02-04}}</ref>|Edison Chen, as posted to his blog}} | |||
], 10 February]] | |||
<!--We've now got the biggest journals and best respected in the world. probably no need to add more to this list --> | |||
=== |
===Police=== | ||
On 3 February, a small group led by ] protested the abuse of power by the police. One week later, there was a larger protest demonstrated against alleged "discriminatory" law enforcement against Internet users. The involvement of local celebrities led to complaints that the wave of arrests were indicative of a legal double standard:<ref name="scmp02-10-2008">{{cite web |url=http://www.scmp.com/article/625879/net-users-protest-police-action|title=Net users protest at police action|work=South China Morning Post |date=10 February 2008}}(non-free source)</ref> protesters claimed that the police failed to investigate other cases of nude photos being published without their subject's permission.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scmp.com/article/625769/tycoons-niece-target-latest-nude-photos|title=Tycoon's niece target of latest nude photos|work=South China Morning Post |date=9 February 2008|access-date=9 February 2008}}</ref> Approximately 300 people marched on police headquarters in ]. They petitioned the police to apologise publicly, to release Chung Yik-tin, to stop "an abuse of power",<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=12&art_id=61320&sid=17539319&con_type=3&d_str=20080211&sear_year=2008 |title=Internet sex pix saga picks up steam |author=Damon Pang |work=The Standard |date=11 February 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080215115021/http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=12&art_id=61320&sid=17539319&con_type=3&d_str=20080211&sear_year=2008 |archive-date=15 February 2008 }}</ref> and also demanded the resignation of Commissioner Tang.<ref name="protest"/> In the wake of the scandal, some citizens also became more concerned about the integrity of the law<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?we_cat=4&art_id=59202&sid=16887802&con_type=1&d_str=20071227&fc=7|title=Truck hits chief inspector's car, toll booth|work=The Standard |date=27 December 2007|access-date=11 February 2008|archive-date=3 January 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080103074713/http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?we_cat=4&art_id=59202&sid=16887802&con_type=1&d_str=20071227&fc=7}}</ref> and some citizens felt that some were more equal than others in Hong Kong.<ref name="protest">{{cite web |url=http://hk.apple.nextmedia.com/news/art/20080211/10737393|title=Netizens march to protest at injustices; shout demands to pursue Edison Chen (500 網民遊行 責警執法不公;高呼捉拿陳冠希)|work=Apple Daily|date=11 February 2008|access-date=11 February 2008|language=zh}}</ref> | |||
Gillian Chung was the first starlet to make a public appearance when she greeted fans at a New Year celebration on ]]. After the meeting, she delivered a brief statement to the press in which she did not expressly state whether she was the subject of some of the photographs. Chung apologised for the hurt caused to those around her by her silliness and naivety, saying that she "had now grown up".<ref name=twins>{{cite web |url=http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=12&art_id=61393&sid=17552751&con_type=3&d_str=20080212&sear_year=2008|title="Twins star apologizes to her fans"|author=Damon Pang|publisher=''The Standard''|date=12 February 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://hk.news.yahoo.com/080211/12/2omv3.html|title=Naive and silly old me (阿嬌:以前很天真及傻)|publisher=''Ming Pao''|date=11 February 2008|accessdate= 2008-02-11|language=Traditional Chinese}}</ref><ref>「....今次這件事,對我同身邊的人,都造成了好大的困擾同傷害(停頓數秒)。我承認以前係好天真同好傻,但係現在已經長大了。好多謝公司、多謝家人,及多謝朋友的眷顧及支持;今次這件事,對於社會帶來了好大的影響,我都深感抱歉,在未來日子裏,我會繼續努力工作,同積極面對我的人生。多謝傳媒的關心,以及要多謝一班對我不離不棄的fans,多謝。」<br>(English translation: "....This incident has caused a lot of turmoil and harm to me and people around me. I admit that I was so naive and silly in the past, but now I have grown up. I thank my company, my family and my friends for their blessing and support. This incident has caused a lot of effects to the society which I deeply regret. In the future, I will continue to work hard, and face my life positively. Thank the media for their care. Also, I want to thank my loyal fans for their relentless support. Thank you."{{cite web |url=http://www.mingpaonews.com/20080212/gaa1.htm|title=I was So Silly, So Naive|publisher=Ming Pao|date=12 February 2008|accessdate=2008-02-12|language=Traditional Chinese}}</ref> Emperor sought closure by stating that neither it nor any of its artists would be making any further statement about the incident.<ref name=twins/> The press conference drew mixed response from the media and the public - some praised her courage in facing the public while others complained of her insincerity and her refusal to face the issue squarely.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.zonaeuropa.com/200802b.brief.htm#007|title="The week's press cuttings"|publisher=Zona Europa|date=Week 2, February 2008}}</ref> An Apple Daily commentary was particularly scathing about the hypocrisy of Chung and of her management company for only obliquely hinting at her "licentiousness."<ref name=hypocrisy>{{cite web |url=http://www.zonaeuropa.com/200802b.brief.htm#005|title=The Biggest Lesson of "Sex Photos Gate" is the Exposure of Hypocrisy|publisher=Apple Daily ''via'' ]|date=12 February 2008|accessdate= 2008-01-15}} {{zh icon}}</ref> | |||
The police were widely criticised for their handling of the case: in a survey by the ''South China Morning Post'', some 48 percent of respondents believed the police had created unnecessary fear among the Internet community, and a similar percentage were dissatisfied with the police handling of the case. However, Assistant Commissioner Wong insisted that they had "not departed from normal practices" and had "acted correctly under the laws".<ref>{{cite news|title=Police attacked over bungled arrest|work=South China Morning Post |page =C1|date=16 February 2008|url=http://www.scmp.com/article/626384/police-attacked-over-bungled-arrest|access-date=11 March 2013}}</ref> | |||
===Chen's definitive statement=== | |||
On 21 February, Edison held a press conference during which he asked for forgiveness and announced his retirement from the Hong Kong entertainment industry. He sincerely regretted harm he caused to the women involved and their and his families. | |||
===Edison Chen=== | |||
{{Quotation|...I would like to say sorry to all the people of Hong Kong. I give my apologies sincerely to you all, unreservedly and with my heart... I know many young people in Hong Kong look up to many figures in society, and in this regard I failed as a role model<ref name=transcript>{{cite web|url=http://news.sina.com.hk/cgi-bin/nw/show.cgi/32/1/1/645837/1.html|title=Edison Chen statement|publisher=Sina|date=22 February 2008|accessdate=2008-02-22}}</ref>.|Edison Chen, press conference, 21 February 2008}}Chen confirmed that the photographs were indeed his, and that they were private; the photographs made public were obtained without his consent. He stated that he had been cooperating with police to solve the case since the first day, and would continue to do so.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://batgwa.com/story.php?id=635|title=Edison Chen: I Took Photos, I'm Sorry, I Quit Showbiz|publisher=''batgwa.com''|date=21 February 2008|accessdate=2008-02-21}}</ref> Through his lawyer, Chen asserted the photographs were protected by his property rights, and that reproduction whether in whole or in part without his consent would constitute ].<ref name=sorry/> | |||
As a consequence of the scandal, Chen was pulled from the upcoming ] film '']'';<ref>{{cite web|url=http://batgwa.com/story.php?id=577|title=Edison Chen Dumped From Movie|publisher=batgwa.com|date=5 February 2008|access-date=6 February 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080208060245/http://batgwa.com/story.php?id=577|archive-date=8 February 2008}}</ref> credit card company ] withdrew all advertisements featuring Chen,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://batgwa.com/story.php?id=595|title=Edison Chen Dumped By Credit Card Company|publisher=batgwa.com|date=10 February 2008|access-date=10 February 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080212193511/http://www.batgwa.com/story.php?id=595|archive-date=12 February 2008}}</ref> and Chen's appearance in '']'' was downgraded to a cameo.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/article/1053713/six-degrees|title=Six Degrees|work=South China Morning Post|access-date=11 March 2013|date=7 October 2012}}</ref> The '']'' reported that ], ], ], ] and the ], had dropped Chen or declined to renew ad campaigns involving him.<ref name=LAT>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-feb-27-fg-hksex27-story.html |title=Hong Kong ogles, blushes |author=Mark Magnier |work=] |date=27 February 2008 |access-date=29 February 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080301204339/http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-fg-hksex27feb27,1,6641296.story |archive-date=1 March 2008 |url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
A hundred police officers were present throughout Chen's press conference on 21 February, and some citizens complained about the waste of manpower. The police emphasised the importance of maintaining public order in light of the great public and media interest in the case.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hk.apple.nextmedia.com/news/art/20080222/10782127|title=Edison Legislators and public viciously criticise waste of police manpower (議員市民狠批浪費警力)|work=Apple Daily|date=22 February 2008|access-date=22 February 2008 |language=zh | |||
==Repercussions== | |||
}}</ref> The ] reportedly offered a HK$500,000 reward to anybody who hacked off Chen's hand.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.asiaone.com/News/Latest%2BNews/Showbiz/Story/A1Story20080219-50425.html|title=Edison Reward: $91,000 for Edison's hand|publisher=Asiaone|date=19 February 2008|access-date=21 February 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=382590|title=Edison "$100,000 offered for sex scandal star's hand|publisher=Ninemsn|date=19 February 2008|access-date=21 February 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080225105506/http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=382590|archive-date=25 February 2008}}</ref> This contributed to fears for Chen's safety upon his return, and heavy police protection. | |||
], February 10.]] | |||
On 12 March 2009, after Chen had appeared at a publicity event in Singapore, a threatening letter said to have originated in the US containing a bullet was delivered to a ] station mailbox.<ref name="stan1">{{cite news|work=The Standard |url=http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=30&art_id=79431&sid=23068912&con_type=3&d_str=20090312&sear_year=2009 |title=Bullet death threat aimed at Chen |date=13 March 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604120612/http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=30&art_id=79431&sid=23068912&con_type=3&d_str=20090312&sear_year=2009 |archive-date=4 June 2011 }}</ref><ref name="scmpmarch13">{{cite news |work=South China Morning Post |url=http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=ca44f4325caff110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD&s=news |title=Edison Chen to visit Singapore despite threats |date=13 March 2009}}</ref><ref name="Chinadaily1">{{cite news |work=China Daily |url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/hkedition/2009-03/12/content_7570096.htm |title=Police examine letter threat against Edison Chen |date=13 March 2009}}</ref> Secretary for Security ] said violence or intimidation would not be tolerated.<ref name="stan1" /> | |||
===For the police=== | |||
On ], approximately 20 people, led by ], protested the abuse of power by the police. | |||
===Gillian Chung=== | |||
A week later, on ], protesters demonstrated against alleged "discriminatory" law enforcement against Internet users. The involvement local celebrities led to complaints that the recent wave of arrests had been indicative of a legal double standard.<ref name="scmp02-10-2008">{{cite web |url=http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=f1c30f1383308110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD&ss=Hong+Kong&s=News|title="Net users protest at police action"|publisher= South China Morning Post|date=10 February 2008}}(non-free source)</ref> Protesters claimed that the police failed to investigate other cases of nude photos being released without their subject's permission.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=09fbca4a72ff7110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD&ss=Hong+Kong&s=News|title=Tycoon's niece target of latest nude photos|publisher=]|date=9 February 2008|accessdate=2008-02-09}}</ref> | |||
Emperor declared that ] was on sick leave following the incident,<ref name=ctventsnews>Cable TV Hong Kong 香港有線電視. Entertainment news 2 June 2008.</ref> ] dropped the use of a ] music video for the celebration of the ] because of Chung's involvement in the controversy.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://hk.news.yahoo.com/080209/12/2okx8.html|title=Disney retreats. Gillian may resume by redesigning image. (遭迪士尼撤宣傳 料重塑形象復出)|work=Yahoo! News|date=10 February 2008 |access-date=10 February 2008|language=zh|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080212133702/http://hk.news.yahoo.com/080209/12/2okx8.html|archive-date=12 February 2008}}</ref> Preparations for the Twins concerts in Hong Kong, originally scheduled for 12–16 April, were postponed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.sina.com.hk/cgi-bin/nw/show.cgi/2/1/1/638043/1.html |title="Twins concert postponed for 5 months" (Twins演唱會 押後五個月)|publisher= Sina.com| date=14 February 2008|language=zh| access-date=18 February 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080215072458/http://news.sina.com.hk/cgi-bin/nw/show.cgi/2/1/1/638043/1.html|archive-date=15 February 2008}}</ref> | |||
Chung's appearance at a charity programme on 17 February met with around 2,100 complaints to the Broadcasting Authority, 373 to ], and 202 to the ] (TELA).<ref name="scmp02-18-2008">{{cite web|url=http://www.scmp.com/article/626751/avalanche-complaints-against-twins-star |title=Avalanche of complaints against Twins star|work=South China Morning Post |date=18 February 2008|access-date=18 February 2008}}</ref> The Broadcasting Authority passed all the correspondence received to TVB.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rthk.org.hk/rthk/news/englishnews/news.htm?englishnews&20080221&56&469887|title=BA declines to handle pop star complaints|publisher=]|date=21 February 2008|access-date=21 February 2008|archive-date=2 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202115336/http://www.rthk.org.hk/rthk/news/englishnews/news.htm?englishnews&20080221&56&469887|url-status=dead}}</ref> | |||
Approximately 300 Internet users marched from ] to police headquarters in ]. They petitioned the police to apologize publicly, to release Chung Yik-tin, and to stop what protesters called an abuse of power.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=12&art_id=61320&sid=17539319&con_type=3&d_str=20080211&sear_year=2008 |title=Internet sex pix saga picks up steam|author=Damon Pang|publisher='' The Standard''|date=February 11, 2008}}</ref> They also demanded the resignation of Commissioner Tang King-shing.<ref name="protest"/> | |||
On 26 February 2008, the ''South China Morning Post'', citing the ], reported that Chung and ] (husband of Cecilia Cheung) had been dropped from the ] opening ceremony by artistic director ].<ref name="scmp02-26-2008">{{cite news|work=South China Morning Post |title=Stars linked to nude photos shut out of Games opening ceremony|page=C1|date=26 February 2008 |access-date=12 March 2013|url=http://www.scmp.com/article/627611/stars-linked-nude-photos-shut-out-games-opening-ceremony}}</ref> Tse did appear at the closing ceremony, sharing the stage with ], ], ], and others.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://olympics.scmp.com/Article.aspx?id=3262§ion=latestnews |title=HK POP STARS SET FOR CLOSING CEREMONY |date=23 August 2008 |work=South China Morning Post |access-date=12 March 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131215141303/http://olympics.scmp.com/Article.aspx?id=3262§ion=latestnews |archive-date=15 December 2013 }}</ref> Twins "temporarily" dissolved in late June 2008, four months after Gillian was caught up in the scandal.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Twins will reunite, says Choi|author= Clara Mak|date= 5 July 2008|journal= ]|url=http://www.scmp.com/article/644040/twins-will-reunite-says-choi}}</ref> | |||
In the wake of the scandal, citizens also became more concerned about the integrity of the law, resulting in increased resentment towards the Hong Kong Police. In December 2007, Chief Inspector Cindy Kong was hit from behind by a truck,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?we_cat=4&art_id=59202&sid=16887802&con_type=1&d_str=20071227&fc=7|title=Truck hits chief inspector's car, toll booth|publisher=]|date=27 December 2007|accessdate=2008-02-11}}</ref> but was unusually allowed to drink water prior to being ].<ref name="protest"/> One month later, businessman ] was acquitted of a speeding offense due to legal technicalities.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.appleactionews.com/site/art_main.cfm?iss_id=20080112&sec_id=6996647|title=超速64公里變29公里 政府放生林建岳|publisher=]|date=9 February 2008|accessdate=2008-02-09 |language=Traditional Chinese | |||
}}</ref> Citizens cited these examples to show that, in Hong Kong, some were clearly more equal than others.<ref name="protest">{{cite web |url=http://appledaily.atnext.com/template/apple/art_main.cfm?iss_id=20080211&sec_id=4104&subsec_id=11866&art_id=10737393 500|title=Netizens march to protest at injustices; shout demands to pursue Edison Chen (500 網民遊行 責警執法不公;高呼捉拿陳冠希)|publisher=Apple Daily|date=11 February 2008|accessdate=2008-02-11|language=Traditional Chinese}}</ref> | |||
She recused herself from public for more than a year following the incident and later apologised for hurting the people around her. During the hiatus, she took classes in many areas which she hoped would serve her professionally.<ref name=scmpreview>{{cite news |title=Back to business |date=2 August 2009 |first=Clara |last=Mak |work=South China Morning Post |publisher=The Review |page=2}}</ref> During the course of her disappearance from public view, fellow Twins member ] twice publicly denied rumours of suicide attempts by Chung.<ref name=ctventsnews/> Chung revealed she decided that suicide would not have solved any problems; she said her mother was supportive of her quitting the industry.<ref name="scmp2">". ''South China Morning Post''. Retrieved 4 March 2009.</ref> | |||
The Police were widely condemned for their handling of the case. In addition, in a survey published by the SCMP, some 48% of people surveyed believed the Police had created unnecessary fear among the Internet community, and a similar percentage were dissatisfied with the police handling of the case. However, Assistant Commissioner Wong insisted that they had "not departed from normal practices" and had "acted correctly under the laws".<ref>{{cite news|title=Police attacked over bungled arrest|publisher= South China Morning Post (print edition)|page =C1|date=16 February 2008</ref> | |||
Interviewed in an episode of TVB's ] in March 2009, Chung admitted she loved Chen, and let him take photos of them engaging in sex because she feared to lose him.<ref name="scmp1">''South China Morning Post''. ". Retrieved 4 March 2009.</ref><ref name="cri2009">{{cite web|url=http://english.cri.cn/6666/2009/03/06/1321s461058.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090310124337/http://english.cri.cn/6666/2009/03/06/1321s461058.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=10 March 2009|title=Gillian Cheung Walks out of Scandal Shadow|date=6 March 2009|access-date=12 March 2013|publisher=China Radio International}}</ref> It was reported that Chung, under contract with ] in 2008, did not receive any salary for the duration of the scandal,<ref name="bmg">TVB ] (志雲飯局) 7 March 2009 episode.</ref><ref name="Sina1059">{{cite web|url=http://news.sina.com.hk/cgi-bin/nw/show.cgi/2/1/1/1059503/1.html |title=阿嬌﹕去年開記招免連累阿Sa|publisher=Sina News|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090310145643/http://news.sina.com.hk/cgi-bin/nw/show.cgi/2/1/1/1059503/1.html|archive-date=10 March 2009|language=zh}}</ref> and even struggled to pay rent.<ref name="Sina1059" /><ref>Mingpao.com. " {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120220171203/http://ol.mingpao.com/cfm/Archive1.cfm?File=20081020%2Fsaa01%2Fmcg2.txt |date=20 February 2012 }}." ''阿嬌南昌復出口窒窒.'' Retrieved 9 March 2009.</ref> | |||
===International media attention=== | |||
<!--We've now got the biggest journals and best respected in the world, except the BBC. probably no need to add more to this list --> | |||
The news of the scandal has received international media attention, notably on ],<ref name=cnn>{{cite web | |||
|url = http://edition.cnn.com/video/#/video/world/2008/02/05/lustout.hong.kong.sex.photos.cnn | |||
|title = Celebrity Sex Scandal |publisher = ] |date = 5 February 2008 | |||
|accessdate = 2008-02-11}}</ref> the ],<ref name=wsj> | |||
{{cite web |url=http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120308887950171619.html |title='Sexy Photo Gate' Mesmerizes Hong Kong, China and Sparks Police Crackdown, Backlash |accessdate=2008-02-16 |last=Fowler |first=Geoffrey |coauthors=Jonathan Cheng |date=15 February 2008 |publisher=Wall Street Journal}}</ref><ref name=wsj2> | |||
{{cite web |url=http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120337261318675199.html |title=PhotoGate |accessdate=2008-02-19 |author=Joseph Sternberg |date=19 February 2008 |publisher=Wall Street Journal}}</ref> the ],<ref name=nyt>{{cite web |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/13/business/worldbusiness/13internet.html?_r=1&em&ex=1203051600&en=5e5d33c170b9b534&ei=5087%0A&oref=slogin |title=Internet Sex Video Case Stirs Free-Speech Issues in Hong Kong |accessdate=2008-02-16 |last=Bradsher |first=Keith |date=13 February 2008 |publisher=]}}</ref> ],<ref name=economist>{{cite web | |||
|url = http://www.economist.com/cities/briefing.cfm?city_id=HK | |||
|title = Cities Guide Hong Kong - News this month - X-Rated | |||
|accessdate = 2008-02-23}}</ref> | |||
],<ref name=msnbc>{{cite web | |||
|url = http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/02/14/665099.aspx | |||
|title = Sex scandal rocks Hong Kong |publisher = ] |date = 14 February 2008 | |||
|accessdate = 2008-02-15}}</ref> | |||
],<ref name=bbc>{{cite web | |||
|url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7254858.stm | |||
|title = China arrests over HK sex scandal | |||
|publisher = ] |date = 20 February 2008 |accessdate = 2008-02-22}}</ref> ],<ref name=guardian>{{cite web | |||
|url = http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/feb/13/china.news | |||
|title = China riveted by stolen sex photos of Hong Kong stars | |||
|publisher = ] |date = 13 February 2008 |accessdate = 2008-02-15}}</ref> ], ] <ref name=lemonde>{{cite web | |||
|url = http://www.lemonde.fr/cinema/article/2008/02/19/un-scandale-ebranle-le-cinema-de-hongkong_1013196_3476.html | |||
|title = Un scandale ébranle le cinéma de Hongkong | |||
|publisher = ] |date = 19 February 2008 |accessdate = 2008-02-20}}</ref> and | |||
].<ref name=spiegel>{{cite web | |||
|url = http://www.spiegel.de/panorama/0,1518,537919,00.html | |||
|title = Chinas nackte Superstars |publisher = ] |date = 27 February 2008 | |||
|accessdate = 2008-02-27}}</ref> | |||
<!--We've now got the biggest journals and best respected in the world, except the BBC. probably no need to add more to this list --> | |||
=== |
===Cecilia Cheung's reaction=== | ||
] being interviewed by ] (區永權)]] | |||
On ] ], Chen was pulled from the upcoming ] movie ''Jump'' as a result of the scandal.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://batgwa.com/story.php?id=577|title=Edison Chen Dumped From Movie|publisher=batgwa.com|date=5 February 2008|accessdate=2008-02-06}}</ref> On ] ], it was reported that credit card company Manhattan Titanium has withdrawn all advertisements featuring Chen.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://batgwa.com/story.php?id=595|title=Edison Chen Dumped By Credit Card Company|publisher=batgwa.com|date=10 February 2008|accessdate=2008-02-10}}</ref> | |||
After Chen's statement to court, Cheung broke silence in the matter on a televised interview on ] on 27 February. She heavily criticised Chen for shedding ], saying that he had not returned calls and had switched off his telephone when the incident came to light. She accused him of hypocrisy in a bid to win the public's forgiveness while hurting others caught up in the scandal.<ref>, IOL news, 28 February 2009</ref> She denied rumours of a rift with her husband and in-laws.<ref>"." ''South China Morning Post''. Retrieved 4 March 2009.</ref> | |||
===Other female stars who have worked with Chen=== | |||
Many police officers protected Chen throughout the press conference, and some citizens complained about the waste of manpower. The police replied that, according to their risk assessment, their strong presence was essential to maintain public order due to the great public and media interest in the case.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www1.appledaily.atnext.com/template/apple/art_main.cfm?iss_id=20080222&sec_id=4104&art_id=10782127|title=Edison Legislators and public viciously criticise waste of police manpower (議員市民狠批浪費警力)|publisher=]|date=22 February 2008|accessdate=2008-02-22 |language=Traditional Chinese | |||
Taiwanese pop stars ] and ], who have collaborated with Chen on various projects, fearing damage to their reputations from rumours, both issued statements through their agents that they had "never been involved with Chen". They each issued "rewards" of {{currency|100 million|TWD}} ($3.3 million) defying anyone to come forward with legally authenticated photographs.<ref>{{cite news|page= C3|title=Stars offer HK$25 million over sex photos|author=Vivienne Chow & Martin Wong|work=South China Morning Post|url=http://www.scmp.com/article/627834/stars-offer-hk25m-over-sex-photos |date=28 February 2008}}</ref><ref name=taiwanesedivas>{{cite news|url=http://www1.appledaily.atnext.com//template/apple/art_main.cfm?iss_id=20080227&sec_id=4104&subsec_id=11866&art_id=10800628|title=Taiwan ese Divas Make a Move: Jolin Tsai & Elva Hsiao post TWD200M reward in challenge to Kira (台灣天后出招 -蔡依林、蕭亞軒懸紅二億挑戰奇拿)|work=Apple Daily|date=27 February 2008|access-date=27 February 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080301225043/http://www1.appledaily.atnext.com/template/apple/sec_main.cfm?iss_id=20080227&sec_id=4104|archive-date=1 March 2008 }}</ref><ref> | |||
}}</ref> | |||
{{cite web|url=http://chinanews.sina.com/ent/2008/0226/18492567143.html |script-title=zh:蕭亞軒蔡依林與陳冠希劃清界線豪擲1億保清譽_新聞頁_中國新聞_北美新浪網|publisher=Sina Corp|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080304023426/http://chinanews.sina.com/ent/2008/0226/18492567143.html|archive-date=4 March 2008|language=zh}}</ref> | |||
===Media=== | |||
The ] reportedly offered a HK$500,000 reward to anybody who hacked off Edison Chen's hand.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.asiaone.com/News/Latest%2BNews/Showbiz/Story/A1Story20080219-50425.html|title=Edison Reward: $91,000 for Edison's hand|publisher=Asiaone|date=19 February 2008|accessdate=2008-02-21}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=382590|title=Edison "$100,000 offered for sex scandal star's hand"|publisher=Ninemsn|date=19 February 2008|accessdate=2008-02-21}}</ref> This contributed to fears for Edison's safety upon his return, and heavy police protection. | |||
The scandal shocked the general public and ignited debate about sexual morality. The blanket coverage of the local press, their reporting style, and the appearance of photographs has also been met with public complaints to TELA.<ref name=imminent/><ref name=kidgloves/> TELA suspected that at least two journals violated the Obscene Articles Ordinance, and sent copies of issue No. 936 of '']'' and issue No. 531 of the ] to the OAT for classification.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=30&art_id=61750&sid=17661261&con_type=1&d_str=20080219&sear_year=2008 |title=Govt acts on sex pics |author=Nickkita Lau |work=The Standard |date=19 February 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080305064613/http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=30&art_id=61750&sid=17661261&con_type=1&d_str=20080219&sear_year=2008 |archive-date=5 March 2008 }}</ref> The Tribunal returned an interim classification of "Class I", meaning the magazines were "neither obscene nor indecent", and TELA demanded a full public hearing to review its decision.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=11&art_id=61867&sid=17694181&con_type=1&d_str=20080221&sear_year=2008 |title=Mags in the clear over nude pics |work=The Standard |date=21 February 2008 |access-date=22 February 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080302075805/http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=11&art_id=61867&sid=17694181&con_type=1&d_str=20080221&sear_year=2008 |archive-date=2 March 2008 }}</ref> The OAT, the method of selecting its adjudicators, and the Obscene Articles Ordinance, came under fire. It reportedly classified ]'s '']'' as "indecent" by adhering rigidly to a definition.<ref>{{cite news |work=South China Morning Post |page =C1|date= 21 February 2008}}</ref> | |||
The images reached China mostly through an image-sharing service on ] (''Tieba'').<ref name="Newsx1">{{cite news |url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-02/19/content_7631572.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080225123826/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-02/19/content_7631572.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=25 February 2008|title=Baidu asked to apologize for spreading HK singer's pornographic photos|agency=]|date=19 February 2008|access-date=19 February 2008}}</ref> Beijing Network News Council (BNNC) held a meeting on 18 February to discuss the "romantic pictures", and criticised Baidu for spreading the pictures.<ref name="Chinatechnews1">{{cite web |url=http://www.chinatechnews.com/2008/02/19/6403-bnnc-asks-baidu-to-apologize-for-nude-pictures|title=BNNC Asks Baidu To Apologize For Nude Pictures|publisher=Chinatechnews|date=19 February 2008|access-date=17 February 2008}}</ref> Other web sites that actively discouraged the photo distribution, namely ], ] and ], were praised by BNNC.<ref name="Newsx1" /> | |||
The LA Times reported that ], ], ], ] and the ], have dropped or declined to renew ad campaigns involving Chen.<ref name=LAT>{{cite web|url=http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-fg-hksex27feb27,1,6641296.story|title=Hong Kong ogles, blushes|author=Mark Magnier|publisher=]|date=27 February 2008|accessdate=2008-02-29}}</ref> | |||
===For Chung=== | |||
Whilst Emperor declared that Gillian Chung was on sick leave, her fellow "]" ] twice publicly denied rumours of suicide attempts by Chung -once was during the promotion of the film '']''.<ref>Cable TV Hong Kong 香港有線電視. Entertainment news 02-06-2008.</ref> According to ], their ] for the celebration of the ] would have featured Twins, but has since been dropped because of Chung's involvement in the controversy. A new video featuring other artists was selected as a replacement.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hk.news.yahoo.com/080209/12/2okx8.html|title=Disney retreats. Gillian may resume by redesigning image. (遭迪士尼撤宣傳 料重塑形象復出)|publisher=hk.news.yahoo.com|date=10 February 2008 |accessdate=2008-02-10|language=Traditional Chinese}}</ref> Preparations for the Twins concerts in Hong Kong originally scheduled for 12-16 April were seriously affected, and the shows would be postponed until September.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.sina.com.hk/cgi-bin/nw/show.cgi/2/1/1/638043/1.html |title="Twins concert postponed for 5 months" (Twins演唱會 押後五個月)|publisher= Sina.com| date=14 February 2008|language=Traditional Chinese| accessdate=2008-02-18}}</ref> | |||
Chung's appearance at a charity programme on ] met with around 2,100 complaints to the Broadcasting Authority, 373 to ], and 202 to the ] (TELA).<ref name="scmp02-18-2008">{{cite web|url=http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=fae7dca81bc28110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD&ss=Hong+Kong&s=News |title=Avalanche of complaints against Twins star|publisher=]|date=18 February 2008|accessdate=2008-02-18}}</ref> On ] the Broadcasting Authority decided that the complaints were outside its jurisdiction to consider, and passed all the correspondence received to TVB.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rthk.org.hk/rthk/news/englishnews/news.htm?englishnews&20080221&56&469887 |title=BA declines to handle pop star complaints|publisher=]|date=21 February 2008|accessdate=2008-02-21}}</ref> | |||
On February 26, 2008, the South China Morning Post, citing the ], reported that Chung and ] (husband of Cecilia Cheung) would no longer perform at the ] opening ceremony. Artistic Director, ], dropped them for having been tainted by the nude photos scandal. Their management had no comment.<ref name="scmp02-26-2008">{{cite news|publisher=]|title=Stars linked to nude photos shut out of Games opening ceremony|page=C1|date=26 February 2008|accessdate=2008-02-26}}</ref> | |||
===For former female collaborators of Edison Chen=== | |||
] and ], who have collaborated with Chen on various projects, have been rumoured love interests of Chen. Some images of a Tsai lookalike have previously appeared. In an effort to contain the damage to their reputations, both issued statements through their agents that they had "never been involved with Chen." They each issued "rewards" of TWD100 million defying anyone to come forward with legally authenticated photographs,<ref>{{cite news|Page= C3|title=Stars offer HK$25 million over sex photos|author=Vivienne Chow & Martin Wong|publisher=South China Morning Post|date=28 February 2008}}</ref><ref name=taiwanesedivas>{{cite news|url=http://www1.appledaily.atnext.com//template/apple/art_main.cfm?iss_id=20080227&sec_id=4104&subsec_id=11866&art_id=10800628|title=Taiwan ese Divas Make a Move: Jolin Tsai & Elva Hsiao post TWD200M reward in challenge to Kira (台灣天后出招 -蔡依林、蕭亞軒懸紅二億挑戰奇拿)|publisher=Apple Daily|date=27 February 2008|accessdate=2008-02-27}}</ref> and also threatened to seek full redress from any parties for the "smears." Tsai urged the Hong Kong Police to publish a list of the persons involved, so that "innocents can be spared."<ref name=taiwanesedivas/> | |||
===For the Press=== | |||
The blanket coverage of the local press, their reporting style, and the appearance of photographs has also been met with complaints from members of the public to TELA.<ref name=imminent/><ref name=kidgloves/> TELA suspects at least two journals of violating the Obscene Articles Ordinance, and sent copies of issue 936 of '']'' and issue 531 of the ] to the OAT for classification.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=30&art_id=61750&sid=17661261&con_type=1&d_str=20080219&sear_year=2008|title=Govt acts on sex pics|author=Nickkita Lau|publisher=''The Standard''|date=February 19, 2008}}</ref> The Tribunal returned an interim classification of "Class I", meaning the magazines were "neither obscene nor indecent", and TELA demanded a full public hearing to review its decision.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=11&art_id=61867&sid=17694181&con_type=1&d_str=20080221&sear_year=2008|title=Mags in the clear over nude pics|publisher=The Standard|date= 21 February 2008|accessdate=2008-02-22}}</ref> The OAT, the method of selecting its adjudicators, and the Obscene Articles Ordinance, are under fire. It reportedly classified ]'s "'']''" as "indecent" by adhering rigidly to a definition.<ref>{{cite news |title="|publisher=South China Morning Post|page =C1|date= 21 February 2008}}</ref> | |||
===For the public in Hong Kong=== | |||
The scandal has shocked the general public and ignited debate about sexual morality. When legislator ] asked ] ] whether the scandal affected Hong Kong's reputation as a regional hub, Tsang replied that it was "a serious issue which demanded further follow-up".<ref>{{cite news | author = Vince Chong | title = HK court frees suspect in sex-photo scandal: Charges dropped after tribunal finds cops wrongly classified photo as 'obscene' | publisher = ] | page = 8 | date = 16 February 2008 }}</ref> | |||
===For Baidu=== | |||
The images reached China mostly through an image-sharing service on ] (''Tieba'').<ref name="Newsx1">{{cite web |url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-02/19/content_7631572.htm|title=Baidu asked to apologize for spreading HK singer's pornographic photos|publisher=Xinhua|date=19 February 2008|accessdate=2008-02-19}}</ref> Beijing Network News Council (BNCC) held a meeting on ] to discuss the "romantic pictures", and criticised Baidu for spreading the pictures.<ref name="Chinatechnews1">{{cite web |url=http://www.chinatechnews.com/2008/02/19/6403-bnnc-asks-baidu-to-apologize-for-nude-pictures|title=BNNC Asks Baidu To Apologize For Nude Pictures|Publisher=Chinatechnews|date=19 February 2008|accessdate=2008-02-17}}</ref> | |||
Other Web sites that actively discouraged the photo distribution, namely ], ] and ], were praised by BNCC.<ref name="Newsx1" /> | |||
==See also== | ==See also== | ||
{{Portal|Hong Kong}} | |||
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* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | * ] | ||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
{{Clear}} | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
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{{HKafter1997}} | |||
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Latest revision as of 18:46, 21 December 2024
2008 unlawful publication of private photosThis article may contain improper use of non-free material. Please review their use according to the criteria and guidelines. (April 2023) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
In 2008, intimate and private photographs of Hong Kong actor Edison Chen with various women, including actresses Gillian Chung, Bobo Chan, Rachel Ngan, and Cecilia Cheung, were unlawfully distributed over the Internet. The scandal shook the Hong Kong entertainment industry and received high-profile media attention locally and around the world. Many local newspapers headlined the story consecutively during the first fortnight of February 2008, relegating coverage of the 2008 Chinese winter storms to secondary prominence during Lunar New Year.
In a crackdown that itself became a controversial item, the Hong Kong police enlisted the assistance of Interpol to stem the spread of the photographs. Ten people were arrested in connection with the distribution of the photographs. A computer technician was convicted of three counts of obtaining access to a computer with dishonest intent, and received a custodial sentence of eight and a half months.
The police crackdown raised questions over violations of the privacy and free speech rights of Internet users. The manner in which actors, their management, and the police handled the situation, in turn, made those arrested into heroes for some Internet users.
Chen admitted being the author and copyright owner of most of the photographs, and stated that the private photographs had been stolen and published illegally without his consent. He made a public apology, especially to the women involved, and also announced that he would "step away indefinitely" from the Hong Kong entertainment industry.
History
In November 2006, Chen purchased a pink PowerBook personal computer, a photograph of which he published on his blog. It may have come from Elite Multimedia, a computer shop in Hong Kong's Central district. According to the police, Chen brought his computer to the shop for repairs in 2007. Employees who discovered over 1,300 intimate photographs of Chen and numerous female celebrities may have secretly copied these files. According to Chen, the image files were deleted before the computer was taken in for repairs.
Chen's photographs were reportedly made sometime between 2003 and 2006. One close friend indicated that Chen liked to take photographs during intimate moments with his sexual partners, of whom 14 were celebrities, and privately showed these to a select group of close friends.
Unfolding
The first intimate photograph, with likenesses of Chen and Gillian Chung, was posted on the Hong Kong Discuss Forum at approximately 8:30 p.m. on 27 January 2008. Although the original post was deleted after a few hours, the image did the rounds at other major forums in Hong Kong such as Uwants and HKGolden. Chung's management agency, Emperor Entertainment Group (EEG), immediately challenged its authenticity, and filed a police report. The following day, a second explicit photograph of Chen with another starlet appeared on the Internet. EEG denounced the person who released it. Gillian Chung had taken a leave of absence, and would not comment on the matter. Shaped by the denials, the initial media consensus was that the photographs were hoaxes. Nevertheless, the story became the headline of major local Hong Kong newspapers.
Over a few hours on 29 January, several more photographs appeared on the Internet. On one, journals identified Cecilia Cheung from her distinctive tattoo set. The photographs became the talk of the town, and local discussion forums became saturated. Journals established with known video footage that the photographs were taken inside Chen's residence. Nevertheless, Cheung's solicitors denounced the upload as a "malicious, immoral and irresponsible act".
Assistant Commissioner of Police (Crime) Vincent Wong Fook-chuen said that 19 officers from the Commercial Crime Bureau were investigating. The police and photographic experts authenticated the photos involving the first three female celebrities. Police requested Internet service providers to stamp out all local traces of the as yet unclassified "offensive material". Related discussion threads were progressively deleted. The police retrieved the IP addresses of more than 30 Internet users who allegedly posted photographs.
Edison Chen, as posted to his blogAt this time I am not able to discuss matters related to the case, but I do feel it is my obligation to accept full responsibility and take action to help both the victims and those associated with them to heal their wounds.
In this regard, I plead with everyone to please stop forwarding the images on the Internet. Furthermore, to completely rid the images from your computer...
After the exposure of the eighth photograph, Chen quietly left Hong Kong and flew to Boston. On 4 February, Chen released a 90-second video clip in English in which he took responsibility and apologised to those who may have been affected by the posting of photographs.
On 6 February, a forum user leaked hundreds more photographs in defiance of the police. The uploader, dubbed by the public as "Kira", promised to release a 32-minute video the next day. Two days later, three pictures of a young woman showering appeared on the Internet. The subject was rapidly identified as 18-year-old Vincy Yeung, Chen's girlfriend and niece of Albert Yeung, chairman of EEG. The police confirmed these three images were among the 1,300 photographs known to them. Having said there were only six participants, the police explained the appearance of a seventh, saying that her photographs had been erroneously grouped with one of the other females.
Gillian Chung was the first starlet to make a public appearance. After a New Year celebration with fans on 11 February, she delivered a brief statement to the press in which she apologised for the hurt caused to those around her. Emperor sought closure by stating that neither it nor any of its artists would be making any further statement about the incident. The press conference drew mixed response from the media and the public. An Apple Daily commentary was particularly scathing about the hypocrisy of Chung and of her management company for only obliquely hinting at her "licentiousness". On 14 February, two new nude photographs surfaced – one featuring an unidentified woman fellating Chen, and another showed a woman lying on a bed.
Edison Chen, press conference 21 February 2008...society as a whole has been affected by this. In this regard, I am deeply saddened. I would like now to apologize to all the people for all the suffering that has been caused and the problems that have arisen from this. I would like to apologize to all the ladies and to all their families for any harm or hurt that they have been feeling...Most importantly, I would like to say sorry to all the people of Hong Kong.
Chen returned to Hong Kong on 21 February, and immediately held a press conference asking for forgiveness and announcing his indefinite departure from the Hong Kong entertainment industry. Chen confirmed that the photographs belonged to him and were private, and stated that they were obtained without his consent and then made public. His lawyer emphasised that reproduction whether in whole or in part would constitute copyright infringement.
Chen was questioned by police for several days consecutively, and Sing Tao Daily revealed that a cache of computer disks and other storage devices containing in excess of 10,000 images were found in Chen's residence. Media reported that five "new" celebrities had been identified by police, who gave only cryptic descriptions. Investigations were said to have been hampered by Chen's caution, and by the lack of co-operation of the "new" female victims: some had left town, and one had already publicly denied her involvement. Chen denied that he had been blackmailed.
Over the course of the two-week period, a total of over a hundred images each of Gillian Chung, Bobo Chan, Candice Chan, and Cecilia Cheung fellating him were exposed, as well as Chen performing cunnilingus to Chung; there were also approximately another hundred nude photos featuring various others, namely Mandy Chen, Rachel Ngan, Maggie Q and Vincy Yeung, who was photographed while taking a bath.
Police actions
Hong Kong
On 31 January 2008, an unemployed man identified as 29-year-old Chung Yik-tin (鍾亦天) was arrested for allegedly uploading one image; 12 pictures were found on his computer. The next day he was arraigned but denied bail because he was suspected of blackmailing the actor and actresses. Chung Yik-tin spent Chinese New Year in detention. After investigating the connection between the suspect and artists, the police were satisfied that blackmail was not involved. Chung was unconditionally released from detention on 15 February, and charges against him were dropped.
On 2 February, police arrested four men and two women in connection with the distribution of the photographs. Of the six, three men and a woman were released on HK$20,000 (US$2,560) bail and ordered to report back to the police in eight weeks. On 4 February, a 29-year-old man became the eighth person to be detained in connection with the disseminating of nude photos; 23-year-old Sze Ho-Chun (史可雋) was also arrested. He was charged with "dishonest use of computers with criminal intent", which has a maximum penalty of five years imprisonment. Sze appeared in Eastern Court on 5 February, where he denied the charge and was released on HK$50,000 bail. The case was adjourned to 22 February.
Assistant Commissioner Wong said the source of the pictures had been traced, but he would not confirm reports stating that they had been taken from Chen's computer. He added that the authenticity of the photographs was no longer in question. Wong also said of the six women found in the photographs, four were local celebrities and two were unknown to the police. None of the women were named. Wong was certain that no overseas artists were involved. He said that whilst it was not a crime to transfer the pictures to friends, those who had posted the images to Internet web pages could be in breach of the law. On 5 February, as another of the suspects was released on HK$50,000 bail, six more related photographs surfaced on the Internet. In the early hours on Chinese New Year's Eve, several hundred more photographs appeared on the Internet; there were two new faces.
Arrest number ten occurred on 10 February. Kwok Chun-wai, a 24-year-old logistics clerk, had allegedly posted the link to a local discussion forum after uploading a compressed file containing over a hundred images to a site in Cyprus. Kwok was released on HK$10,000 bail. He pleaded guilty to three counts of publishing an obscene article. On 24 July 2008, he was sentenced to two months in prison, suspended for two years.
Mainland China
Web sites on the mainland are usually more sensitive to political issues than to pornography, and for several weeks major sites such as Baidu permitted the images to be disseminated. During this time, photographs were also posted on the popular mainland China chat room, Tianya Club, and had been viewed nearly 20 million times a day. Around 20 February however, mainland sites took action to prevent access to the photos.
A crackdown began in neighbouring Guangdong province on the manufacturing, selling and spreading the CD-ROMs of the celebrity photos, which sold "like hotcakes" in Shenzhen. Police arrested 10 people suspected of the production in Shenzhen. Police in Beijing announced on 21 February that it would act to stop the circulation of the photographs. Officials declared that showing the photos to friends or posting them on blogs or online forums, even without profit motive, could be punishable by detention for up to 15 days; transmission of more than 200 of the photos as a package on the internet would be met with criminal prosecution.
Taiwan
A Taiwanese man aged 24, Huang Wei-lun, was arrested in Taipei County on suspicion of posting the explicit photos and videos in his blog and instructing net surfers how to download the images. Police in Kaohsiung warned of the two-year penalty for selling pornographic CDs, and raided shops and arcades where discs of Edison Chen's photographs have been selling slowly, for NT$100. One observer remarked that young people did not buy discs as they can get the photographs easily from the internet.
Legal issues
Freedom of speech
On 2 February, Commissioner of Police Tang King Shing warned that anyone with the pictures on their computer could be in breach of the law, even if there was no record of distribution. This led to an immediate objection by lawmaker "Long Hair" Leung Kwok-hung, who led a protest of about two dozen people outside police headquarters in Wan Chai. They accused the police of sowing confusion and creating an atmosphere of "White Terror" among netizens. Leung urged Commissioner Tang to clarify whether merely keeping the pictures violated the law. Some opinions disagree on distributing the photos.
Selective application of the law
The denial of bail for Chung Yik-tin sparked controversy over the subjective application of the law. Legislator Ronny Tong accused the police of humiliating a suspect by their excessively hasty actions. The police's selectiveness in this case, as compared with previous cases of pornography distribution on the Internet, was also the focus of public attention. The local Chairman of the Internet Society and legislator Regina Ip said that it was inevitable that police would apply the law selectively, for it would be impractical to take action against every person who had committed an offence in Hong Kong.
Commentary in the newspaper Ming Pao also remarked on the widespread outrage about the perceived selective application of legal principles – that a person charged with an apparently minor offence being denied bail whilst two others, unnamed, with allegedly heavier involvement in the spread of the photographs were allowed out on bail. A commentary in Apple Daily decried the "clear intimidation of netizens" by the police, and for arresting people without bringing the alleged main source and victim (Chen) for interrogation.
Definition of "obscenity"
While publishing an "obscene" (淫褻) article carries a maximum sentence of 3 years, an "indecent" (不雅) article only carries a maximum sentence of 12 months. Ming Pao revealed on 14 February that it had received interim classification from the Obscene Articles Tribunal (OAT) relating to five photographs it had submitted for opinion. Three of these photographs were classified as "indecent" while two were considered "obscene". The only photograph which was in circulation on 27 January, allegedly posted by Chung Yik-tin, was "indecent". Thus, the journal raised the question that Chung may have been charged with a wrong offence. Also, the law applies only after OAT's classification. Since the police arrested and charged Chung before classification, some viewed the arrest as unlawful. An assistant professor at the University of Hong Kong questioned whether an amended charge of "Publishing an Indecent Article" applied to photographs uploaded onto the Internet.
Hearing and trial
Chen's hearing
Although Chen agreed to co-operate with the authorities, he refused to return to Hong Kong to give evidence in the trial. A team of four lawyers and a magistrate were thus flown out to Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada for a hearing beginning on 23 February 2009 at taxpayers' expense. Legislator Ronny Tong questioned the "extravagancy" of this hearing, and suggested there may be an easier and cheaper way to collect Chen's evidence.
During the hearing, which was presided over by Supreme Court of British Columbia Justice Elaine Adair, with Hong Kong's Chief Magistrate Tong Man (唐文) as co-commissioner, Chen confirmed that Cecilia Cheung, Gillian Chung, Bobo Chan and Rachel Ngan were indeed involved. He testified that the photographs, taken from 2001 to 2006, were consensual, and were only shown to the women involved. He professed his "huge shock" at seeing the images on the Internet, citing that he had deleted the images before sending his computer in for repairs in summer of 2006.
Sentence
Computer technician Sze Ho-chun was convicted on 13 May 2009 of three counts of obtaining access to a computer with dishonest intent, and received a custodial sentence of eight and a half months. However, there was no evidence that he uploaded the pictures to the Internet.
Impact and consequences
Police
On 3 February, a small group led by Leung Kwok-hung protested the abuse of power by the police. One week later, there was a larger protest demonstrated against alleged "discriminatory" law enforcement against Internet users. The involvement of local celebrities led to complaints that the wave of arrests were indicative of a legal double standard: protesters claimed that the police failed to investigate other cases of nude photos being published without their subject's permission. Approximately 300 people marched on police headquarters in Wan Chai. They petitioned the police to apologise publicly, to release Chung Yik-tin, to stop "an abuse of power", and also demanded the resignation of Commissioner Tang. In the wake of the scandal, some citizens also became more concerned about the integrity of the law and some citizens felt that some were more equal than others in Hong Kong.
The police were widely criticised for their handling of the case: in a survey by the South China Morning Post, some 48 percent of respondents believed the police had created unnecessary fear among the Internet community, and a similar percentage were dissatisfied with the police handling of the case. However, Assistant Commissioner Wong insisted that they had "not departed from normal practices" and had "acted correctly under the laws".
Edison Chen
As a consequence of the scandal, Chen was pulled from the upcoming Stephen Fung film Jump; credit card company Manhattan Titanium withdrew all advertisements featuring Chen, and Chen's appearance in The Dark Knight was downgraded to a cameo. The Los Angeles Times reported that Pepsi China, Standard Chartered Bank, Samsung, Levi's and the Hong Kong Metro, had dropped Chen or declined to renew ad campaigns involving him.
A hundred police officers were present throughout Chen's press conference on 21 February, and some citizens complained about the waste of manpower. The police emphasised the importance of maintaining public order in light of the great public and media interest in the case. The triads reportedly offered a HK$500,000 reward to anybody who hacked off Chen's hand. This contributed to fears for Chen's safety upon his return, and heavy police protection.
On 12 March 2009, after Chen had appeared at a publicity event in Singapore, a threatening letter said to have originated in the US containing a bullet was delivered to a Cable TV station mailbox. Secretary for Security Ambrose Lee said violence or intimidation would not be tolerated.
Gillian Chung
Emperor declared that Gillian Chung was on sick leave following the incident, Hong Kong Disneyland Resort dropped the use of a Twins music video for the celebration of the Chinese New Year because of Chung's involvement in the controversy. Preparations for the Twins concerts in Hong Kong, originally scheduled for 12–16 April, were postponed.
Chung's appearance at a charity programme on 17 February met with around 2,100 complaints to the Broadcasting Authority, 373 to TVB, and 202 to the Television and Entertainment Licensing Authority (TELA). The Broadcasting Authority passed all the correspondence received to TVB.
On 26 February 2008, the South China Morning Post, citing the Dalian Evening News, reported that Chung and Nicholas Tse (husband of Cecilia Cheung) had been dropped from the Beijing Olympics opening ceremony by artistic director Zhang Yimou. Tse did appear at the closing ceremony, sharing the stage with Jackie Chan, Emil Chau, Andy Lau, and others. Twins "temporarily" dissolved in late June 2008, four months after Gillian was caught up in the scandal.
She recused herself from public for more than a year following the incident and later apologised for hurting the people around her. During the hiatus, she took classes in many areas which she hoped would serve her professionally. During the course of her disappearance from public view, fellow Twins member Charlene Choi twice publicly denied rumours of suicide attempts by Chung. Chung revealed she decided that suicide would not have solved any problems; she said her mother was supportive of her quitting the industry.
Interviewed in an episode of TVB's Be My Guest in March 2009, Chung admitted she loved Chen, and let him take photos of them engaging in sex because she feared to lose him. It was reported that Chung, under contract with Emperor Entertainment Group in 2008, did not receive any salary for the duration of the scandal, and even struggled to pay rent.
Cecilia Cheung's reaction
After Chen's statement to court, Cheung broke silence in the matter on a televised interview on iCable on 27 February. She heavily criticised Chen for shedding crocodile tears, saying that he had not returned calls and had switched off his telephone when the incident came to light. She accused him of hypocrisy in a bid to win the public's forgiveness while hurting others caught up in the scandal. She denied rumours of a rift with her husband and in-laws.
Other female stars who have worked with Chen
Taiwanese pop stars Jolin Tsai and Elva Hsiao, who have collaborated with Chen on various projects, fearing damage to their reputations from rumours, both issued statements through their agents that they had "never been involved with Chen". They each issued "rewards" of NT$100,000,000 ($3.3 million) defying anyone to come forward with legally authenticated photographs.
Media
The scandal shocked the general public and ignited debate about sexual morality. The blanket coverage of the local press, their reporting style, and the appearance of photographs has also been met with public complaints to TELA. TELA suspected that at least two journals violated the Obscene Articles Ordinance, and sent copies of issue No. 936 of Next Magazine and issue No. 531 of the Oriental Sunday magazine to the OAT for classification. The Tribunal returned an interim classification of "Class I", meaning the magazines were "neither obscene nor indecent", and TELA demanded a full public hearing to review its decision. The OAT, the method of selecting its adjudicators, and the Obscene Articles Ordinance, came under fire. It reportedly classified Michelangelo's David as "indecent" by adhering rigidly to a definition.
The images reached China mostly through an image-sharing service on Baidu (Tieba). Beijing Network News Council (BNNC) held a meeting on 18 February to discuss the "romantic pictures", and criticised Baidu for spreading the pictures. Other web sites that actively discouraged the photo distribution, namely Sohu, Sina and Netease, were praised by BNNC.
See also
- Imagery of nude celebrities
- 2002 East Week magazine kidnap incident
- 2003 Jade Solid Gold Top 10 award bribing
- iCloud leaks of celebrity photos
- Justin Lee sex scandal
References
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- 「... 今次這件事,對我同身邊的人,都造成了好大的困擾同傷害(停頓數秒)。我承認以前係好天真同好傻,但係現在已經長大了。好多謝公司、多謝家人,及多謝朋友的眷顧及支持;今次這件事,對於社會帶來了好大的影響,我都深感抱歉,在未來日子裏,我會繼續努力工作,同積極面對我的人生。多謝傳媒的關心,以及要多謝一班對我不離不棄的fans,多謝。」
(English translation: "... This incident has caused a lot of turmoil and harm to me and people around me. I admit that I was so naive and silly in the past, but now I have grown up. I thank my company, my family and my friends for their blessing and support. This incident has caused a lot of effects to the society which I deeply regret. In the future, I will continue to work hard, and face my life positively.""I was So Silly, So Naive". Ming Pao (in Chinese). 12 February 2008. Retrieved 12 February 2008. - "The week's press cuttings". Zona Europa.
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{{cite journal}}
: Cite journal requires|journal=
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{{cite news}}
: Missing or empty|title=
(help) - ^ "Baidu asked to apologize for spreading HK singer's pornographic photos". Xinhua News Agency. 19 February 2008. Archived from the original on 25 February 2008. Retrieved 19 February 2008.
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