The founder of a local historical interest group said it may sue the pro-Beijing Ta Kung Pao newspaper if it does not take action to clarify false accusations carried in its reports.
Watershed Hong Kong last month organised a “Living Monuments” reenactment wearing uniforms of the Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Corp to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Hong Kong. But the newspaper tied the group to pro-independence activists on its front page and second page on January 5.
Founder Taurus Yip sent a legal letter to the paper saying the reports were defamatory. He demanded it issue a statement retracting the reports on its printed and online papers, and apologise within a week.
The letter warned the newspaper that Yip may bring a lawsuit if it failed to meet the demands.
The newspaper claimed at the time that the founders of Watershed Hong Kong were all former University of Hong Kong students or editors of the university’s student magazine Undergrad, who advocated independence for the territory.
But Yip said on the group’s Facebook page that he does not advocate Hong Kong independence.
He said that the Living Monuments event was to commemorate soldiers and citizens who died protecting Hong Kong during the war and to promote history. It was only held after discussion with the police, he added.
The Battle of Hong Kong lasted for 18 days before the surrender to Japanese forces on Christmas day, 1941.
According to Yip, Ta Kung Pao has yet to offer any response.
