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precise evidence on the date it became viable.
Counsel for the Appellant said the Magistrate was incorrect in
interpreting the word ‘article’ as he did, when common sense dictated
that such an interpretation could not have been contemplated or intended
by the Legislature.
A superficially attractive argument proceeded during which
counsel exhaustively examined the Ordinance to show that its tenor was
to control books, magazines, radio and television material and that
computer generated material was never contemplated by the legislature.
Further it was a distortion of the definition of publish to include in its
meaning the transmission of a stream of electricity, as “publish” was
given a restrictive meaning and publication had to be to the public or a
section of the public - to transmit an electronic stream to persons who
had to actively download it was not sending to the public.
The Respondent argued that the definition of article in section
2 of the Ordinance amply covered the computer files the subject of the
charge, and that such an interpretation accorded with the language of the
section, as well as being consistent with the policy objectives sought to
be achieved by the Ordinance.
The Respondent argued that the acts of the Appellant fell
within the definition of publish as section 2(4) of the Ordinance
contemplated it, both as to section 2(4)(a) and also within the alternative
limb 2(4)(b). As for “public” or “a section of the public”, Mr. Wong
argued that the element of public or a section of the public was not to be