Hong Kong's top court has overturned the conviction of a journalist in a ruling related to an investigative report about an attack on pro-democracy protesters.

Choy Yuk-ling, better known as Bao Choy, worked for local broadcaster RTHK. She produced the documentary, which criticized the slow police response when assailants attacked the protesters in July 2019.

In her investigation, Choy had tried to identify the attackers by obtaining ownership records of vehicles seen in video footage on the day.

In 2021, a lower court found Choy guilty of violating road traffic control regulations by making false statements to obtain the data, and fined her. She pleaded not guilty and appealed the ruling.

The legality of obtaining vehicle registration records for journalistic purposes came under scrutiny, as it is common practice among Hong Kong media for investigative reports.

In a written judgment released on Monday, the top court indicated that accessing the vehicle registration record database for journalistic investigation is permissible. It also ruled in Choy's favor, rejecting any suggestion that she knowingly made false statements.

Following the ruling, Choy expressed her happiness and told reporters that the judgment stated the importance of the constitutionally protected freedoms of the press and speech.