When an insider decides to disclose confidential information to the media, it is a indication of failure in the existing address, its monitoring or checking procedures for the maintenance of balance between its own interests and those of the public. The recordings of speeches made at an HKU Council meeting was leaked after it failed to explain the rationale for rejecting the appointment of scholar Johannes Chan to the post of pro-vice-chancellor in spite of strong requests from the public to do so. Hence, HKJA disagrees with CE’s declaration that the disclosure was an immoral act.
It is not uncommon, both locally and overseas, that an insider discloses confidential materials to monitor those in power and fight for justice, an instance of which was the 2014 Australian media revelation that the CE did not make any declaration of the secret contract under which the Australian firm UGL agreed to pay him 4 million pounds in departure settlement.
To put the principle of confidentiality before the public’s interest will certainly erode the media of its capabilities to monitor those in power.
Hong Kong Journalists Association
Hong Kong Journalists Association
3 November 2015