Biographical informationLeong Ho worked as a market gardener in South Perth in 1888 when he was a plaintiff together with Chow Youke in a libel case against the Daily News (West Australian, 1/9/1888).
In August 1888 Leong Ho, together with Chow Youke and Ah Tong (9) sued the Daily News for alleged libel (Daily News 1/9/1888). The paper had published a letter from an anonymous member of the public who claimed that one or more Chinese market gardeners in South Perth were suffering from leprosy and that "scales falling from persons suffering from this disease will adhere to any substance with which they may come into contact, thereby spreading the terrible malady". The effect (and no doubt the intent) was to stop people from buying produce from the Chinese market gardens. Leong Ho, Chow Youke, and Ah Tong sued for damages (500 pounds per person), arguing that the allegation was completely unfounded.
In giving evidence Leong Ho explained that in 1888 he had four Chinese men working for him in his market garden in South Perth. The garden was 15 acres in size and had a good crop of vegetables. After the letter was published he could not sell the vegetables and had to let them rot in the ground. They were worth 800 to 900 pounds. Many Europeans gave evidence confirming that they had stopped buying vegetables because of the published letter. The newspaper argued that they had published the letter in public interest and without malice and therefore could not be convicted of a crime. The jury found in favour of the Daily News against the advice of the Judge.Other nameLeong Ho (differentiated name)Leong Hong (also known as)
