Chinese ruling a victory for freedom of speech

The Washington Times reports the People\'s Intermediate Court in Tianhe district, in the southern city of Guangzhou, ruled against Guangzhou Huaqiao Real Estate Development, which had sought $711 000 in damages from China Reform magazine. The July 1, 2003, edition of the monthly said Guangzhou Huaqiao had been stripped of its assets, posted losses and laid off workers as a result of its ownership changing hands several times. The news was sourced to company and official documents. The court ruled that journalists enjoyed legal immunity if news was backed up by a source that was reasonable and believable, and not based on rumours or fabrication. Full report in The Washington Times