The Law Protecting Fair Trials: An Obituary by Tim Hamlett

Readers may be fed up with me complaining about the erosion of the laws restricting the reporting of upcoming court cases. Well, some good news. The erosion has now reached the stage where there is nothing left. I shall not need to return to this topic again.

The law involved is rather unhelpfully labelled “strict liability contempt of court”. The “contempt of court” part means that your conduct is deemed to disturb the administration of justice. The “strict liability” bit indicates that the prosecution does not have to prove that you meant it, only that your publication could have affected the subsequent trial. Its purpose is to ensure that trials are fair….

Read Tim Hamlett’s full article here

Women’s Rugby World Cup – bcene: Japan v Spain @ York, 7 September, 2025

Japanese and Spanish fans arrived in York hoping to see their team win their first World Cup Game.

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Photos: copyright Simon Durrant/bcmagazine

Happy Birthday bc

Happy Birthday to us!

Thirty-one, yes 31, years ago today, bc magazine debuted on the streets of Hong Kong.

Much has changed over the last 30+ years, especially since Covid… Lan Kwai Fong and Wanchai are now (sadly) unrecognisable from the vibrant social melting pots of years past.

What does the future hold? It seems unlikely the “work hard, party harder” culture will return. And that feels sad, maybe something new will replace it but ‘connecting’ via social media is vastly different than meeting in person… And yes the world has moved online, but personal connections are still where it matters.

A lot of people – staff, friends, advertisers and readers have been involved over the years, thank you for your continued support and strength.

Carpe Diem!

Coleman Wong into the US Open Third Round!

Coleman Wong Chak-lam made history at the US Open today when he became the first male Hongkonger to make it through to the Third Round of a Grand Slam.

Wong beat Australian Adam Walton in 4 sets 7-6(5), 6-2, 4-6, 6-4

images: US Open

Hong Kong v Bangladesh

Hong Kong v Bangladesh – AFC Asian Cup
Date: 8pm, 14 October, 2025
Venue: Kai Tak Stadium
Tickets: tbc

Women’s World Cup Kicks Off With Red Roses Win

Over 42,000 crowded into the Stadium of Light in Sunderland on 22 August to watch England’s Red Roses in the opening game of Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025.

The tournament hosts savouring the noisy home atmosphere rewarded the crowd – a record for a Women’s World Cup game – with some exciting attacking rugby in a 69-7 win against a United States team determined not to let the occasion overwhelm them.

That Sunderland, a northern city that lives for its football team, not only embraced the tournament but enjoyed the match shows how far women’s rugby has come even in the three years since New Zealand 2022.

Watch the highlights here

Photos: copyright Simon Durrant/bc magazine