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| As in other capitalist countries in Asia, Hong Kong media were rocked in October and November by reports on a Hong Kong man's sexual behavior on both newspaper and TV. |
The criticism started after a suicide in October, according to ENI. A wife, who suspected her husband had a mistress, killed herself by jumping from her 14th-floor flat after throwing her two sons, aged six and 10, out of the window. Then in a bid to increase its sales, Apple Daily, Hong Kong's biggest-selling newspaper, and other media took an interest in Chan Kin-hon, with the newspaper urging him to visit a brothel. News coverage of the issue prompted widespread concern and outrage. Chan was then interviewed by an "infotainment" television program, and admitted that he did have a mistress in Shenzhen, a Chinese mainland city adjacent to the Hong Kong border. Chan said he did not regret his actions. Then Apple Daily newspaper admitted on 29 October that its reporters had paid Chan, to visit a brothel so that the newspaper could run a story about his behavior.
Many people including social workers, communicators, pastors and even representatives of journalistic associations, condemned the reporting methods of those journalists. One of these critics was The Society for Truth and Light, a moral-concern group made up mainly of members of Evangelical churches. All of these concerned groups and individuals gave their comments from various perspectives through different media: newspapers, radio social issue programs, magazines and TV programs. Rev. Eric So, head of publishing for the Chinese Christian Literature Council, said, "Apple Daily gave an apology to the public because of the moral and just criticism of Hong Kong society as a whole, not because of a single Christian group," as was reported by other Christian media. As a result of this public outcry, the front page of the November 9 edition of the Apple Daily was taken up with an apology from the newspaper.
Rev. So was critical about the church's role on this issue: "The family life and martial relationships of the people of Hong Kong are facing many crises. As far as I know, mainline churches haven't put too much effort into this problem, but many individual Christians and Christian NGOs have been working very hard at it. Organizations such as Hong Kong Christian Services - Family Service Center, the Salvation Army-Social Service Center, and HK Caritas - Family Counseling Services." 
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