Hong Kong star's changing room photo on magazine cover stirs

tepter SG

Hong Kong star's changing room photo on magazine cover stirs outcry

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HONG KONG -- The cover of Hong Kong magazine that shows a photo of a ocal pop star adjusting her bra while changing backstage has stirred an outcry, with critics denouncing the picture's display as despicable.

One of the cover photos in question, published in the current issue of Easy Finder magazine, shows Gillian Chung of the Hong Kong female pop duo Twins fixing her bra backstage at a concert at the Malaysian entertainment resort of Genting last week. Her b r e a s t is not revealed.

The second, smaller cover photo shows Chung naked shoulder up. The headline reads, "Ah Kiu releases bra near back window," using Chung's Chinese nickname.

The voyeuristic photo has drawn protests from the government, editorialists and members of the public who filed hundreds of complaints against the cover to government regulators.

Easy Finder didn't immediately return a call by The Associated Press seeking comment.

One newspaper photo showed a teary-eyed Chung, covering her mouth with clutched fists, in response to the magazine cover.

The respected Ming Pao Daily News said in an editorial Thursday the cover "can only be described as dirty and obscene."

"These magazines, for the sake of galvanizing readers and spike circulation, have stooped to a level where they use illegitimate means, and anything goes," it wrote.

Hong Kong's Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology Joseph Wong was quoted as saying in Ming Pao, "taking photos secretly is always wrong."

"The wording in magazines is getting increasingly obscene and gross," Wong reportedly said at a private gathering with reporters.

Chung's record label EEG said in a statement it's seeking legal advice.

"We urge journalists to rethink their current method of covering entertainment news. We hope they respect the dignity of artists while defending freedom of press," the statement said.

Spokeswoman Viola Kwan for the Television and Entertainment Licensing Authority, which regulates local publications, said the body has received 246 complaints against the magazine cover. She said the matter has been referred to Hong Kong's Obscene Articles Tribunal, which classifies offensive print materials.

Easy Finder is part of the Next Media group of publications, known for its aggressive and at times sensationalistic reporting. It also publishes the popular newspaper Apple Daily and the weekly Next magazine in both Hong Kong and Taiwan.

Hong Kong's in-your-face paparazzi tactics have drawn fire before. Eastweek magazine was shut down amid the backlash after publishing on its cover a photo of a visibly distressed, seminude female star, widely reported to be Carina Lau, in October 2002.

Eastweek was then owned by businessman Albert Yeung, who controls Chung's record label EEG. It was later reopened under new ownership.

tepter SG

Here is a followup to the Gillian Chung controversial cover photo on
Hong Kong's Easy Finder magazine that was taken with a hidden camera
in her dressing room.

Hong Kong magazine challenges 'indecent' classification over pop star
photos

HONG KONG -- A Hong Kong magazine that sparked an uproar by running photos of a pop star changing her clothes in a recent issue has appealed its classification as "indecent," a court spokeswoman said Wednesday.

Easy Finder magazine has challenged the Obscene Articles Tribunal's classification of its Aug. 23 edition, whose cover showed Hong Kong singer Gillian Chung changing after a concert in Malaysia's Genting Highlands, court spokeswoman Jaime Or said.

Chung, a member of the female pop duo Twins, is shown naked shoulder up but her breasts are not revealed.

The tribunal will now hold a hearing on the matter, Or said. She said the date of the hearing wasn't immediately known.

The Easy Finder issue's "indecent" classification could pave the way for prosecution because publications that fall under the category are required to be wrapped and display a warning that the item cannot be sold to people under 18 _ conditions Easy Finder didn't meet.

The cover photos have been condemned by journalists, Chung's fellow stars and member of the public. Jackie Chan led a protest at Hong Kong's government headquarters, the Hong Kong Journalists Association called the photos a violation of professional ethics and government regulators received a deluge of complaints.

Chung has reported the matter to both Hong Kong and Malaysian police. She has also sought a court injunction demanding that Easy Finder give her the photographs.

The injunction was apparently successful. Mani Fok, an artist manager for Chung's record label, EEG, told the AP Wednesday that the company is happy with the result of the request. She declined to give details.

Hong Kong celebrities traditionally have a tense relationship with the city's aggressive paparazzi.

A local magazine was shut down temporarily amid a backlash after it ublished a cover photo of a visibly distressed, seminude female, widely reported to be actress Carina Lau, in October 2002.

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