{
  "id": 13103908,
  "title": "News commentator denies unlawfully revealing police meeting details online",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/09/news-commentator-denies-unlawfully-revealing-police-meeting-details-13103908",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-09T11:35:52.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "South China Morning Post - Hong Kong",
    "slug": "south-china-morning-post-hong-kong",
    "url": "https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3370378/news-commentator-denies-unlawfully-revealing-police-meeting-details-online"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A 72-year-old Hong Kong news commentator, Wong Kwok-ngon, has denied allegations that he unlawfully disclosed police meeting details online. Wong, who runs a YouTube commentary channel under the pseudonym Wong On-yin, appeared in District Court on Friday as the first individual to face prosecution for potentially undermining national security investigations through the unauthorized release of police interview details. He also faces charges of knowingly publishing subversive content in relation to videos covering local and international news. During the trial, Wong questioned the classification of his December 2, 2025, meeting with two National Security Department sergeants as confidential when media outlets had already reported his investigation. He and other residents had intended to hold a press conference that day regarding the tragic Wang Fuk Court fire that claimed 168 lives in November. However, the event was cancelled after national security officers invited them to a meeting on the same day. Wong uploaded two videos to his YouTube channel the following day, discussing the meeting. Prosecutors argued that Wong's commentary went beyond \"fair comment,\" as he frequently portrayed the National Security Department's activities as a means of suppression. They stated Wong had signed a non-disclosure agreement at the start of the meeting, pledging to keep all discussed matters confidential. The court heard that despite this, Wong informed Sergeants Li Pak-him and Wong Ping-kiu that he understood the confidentiality terms. Li testified that Wong did not inquire about the declaration but asked whether he was under investigation. The sergeant explained that the meeting's purpose was to gather intelligence from the commentator, who was not a suspect at the time, and to evaluate if the planned press conference might pose a national security risk. Both officers confirmed that they inquired about the press conference background. When asked whether he had received any assurances about what he could and could not say, Wong responded, \"I replied to you at the time that it was already in the newspaper that you guys were having a meeting with me, so what exactly do you want me to keep confidential?\" The commentator maintained that he had only intended to discuss legal matters at the press conference and would not reveal any sensitive information that should concern the officers. Li reiterated that the entire meeting, including its existence, should remain private. The trial is set to continue on Monday, with further evidence regarding the allegedly seditious content published on Wong's channel.",
  "summary": "A Hong Kong news commentator accused of violating the national security law has denied exposing police intelligence operations, telling a court that details of his meeting with officers were already public knowledge before he posted them online. Wong Kwok-ngon, 72, who ran a YouTube commentary channel under the pen name Wong On-yin, stood trial at the District Court on Friday. He is the first…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "South China Morning Post",
        "title": "News commentator denies unlawfully revealing police meeting details online",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/09/news-commentator-denies-unlawfully-revealing-police-meeting-details",
        "published": "2026-10-09T11:35:52.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}