Section 12

Subject to this section, the publication in a newspaper of any report or other matter specified in the Schedule shall be privileged unless the publication is proved to be made with malice.

In an action for libel in respect of the publication of any report or other matter specified in Part 2 of the Schedule, this section shall not be a defence if it is proved that the defendant has been requested by the plaintiff to publish in the newspaper in which the original publication was made a reasonable letter or statement by way of explanation or contradiction, and has refused or neglected to do so, or has done so in a manner not adequate or not reasonable having regard to all the circumstances.

Nothing in this section shall be construed as protecting the publication of any blasphemous, seditious or indecent matter or of any matter the publication of which is prohibited by law, or of any matter which is not of public concern and the publication of which is not for the public benefit.

Nothing in this section shall be construed as limiting or abridging any privilege subsisting (otherwise than by virtue of the repealed Defamation Ordinance 1960 (Ordinance 7 of 1960)) immediately before 6 May 1965.