Classified Criminal Appeals

Bulletin 1998

Prosecutions Division

Department of Justice

Hong Kong Special Administrative Region

ccab 1998

(i)

A DIGEST OF

HONG KONG CRIMINAL APPEAL CASES

1998

Compiled and Edited by

Eddie SEAN, Senior Government Counsel,

based on 12 issues (Jan. - Dec. 1998) of Criminal

Appeals Bulletins published by the Prosecutions

Division of Department of Justice,

Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

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INTRODUCTION

In his introduction to his Digest of 1986-1989, ADDISON J., as he then was, indicated that he was leaving Hong Kong. Like many colleagues, I found his Digest most useful and was disappointed that ADDISON's Digest could not be continued.

As the monthly Criminal Appeals Bulletins published by the Criminal Appeals Unit of our Department summarised judgements of significance, in mid 1990, I decided to classify those Bulletins from the January 1989 issue onwards. The old Classified Appeals Bulletin was first published in May 1990.

In May 1998, I revised the loose-leaf format and published the 1996-97 edition. I later did one for 1993-95, one for 1989-92 and this one is for 1998. I plan to do one in the beginning of every year as from now.

Some cases appear in more than one chapter as they touch on more than one subject. As a token of respect to the original editors of the Criminal Appeals Bulletin, I have decided not to delete or alter the contents. As a result, for a particular subject, you may have one or 2 paragraphs in a case digest which do not relate to that subject. I hope you could bear with that.

I certainly could not have done this all on my own. The original editors of the Criminal Appeals Bulletin wrote the contents and I just put different paragraphs into place. Many colleagues helped. Ms. Maggie LAW and Ms. Dora FUNG, personal secretaries, Mr. Thomas TSANG, Ms.Phoebe KANG, Ms Jojo Mo, Legal Trainees, and a few others who prefer to remain nameless, all put in long hours

Eddie SEAN

January 1999

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Table of Contents

Subject Headings

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page (iv) - (v)

Subject Index

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page (vi) - (xix)

Words and Phrases

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page (xx) - (xxi)

Digest of Cases

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 1 - 148

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��������

Page No

Appeal / Procedure ...................... 1

BOR ............................................. 3

Bribery / Corruption / ICAC........... 5

C & E............................................ 7

Character ..................................... 9

Charge / Indictment / Summons / Amendments .............................. 13

Conspiracy ................................. 17

Corroboration ............................. 17

Costs .......................................... 18

Counsel ...................................... 21

Dangerous Drugs ....................... 24

Disclosure .................................. 26

District Court .............................. 26

Environmental Protection ........... 27

Evidence .................................... 30

Experts ....................................... 32

Gambling.................................... 33

Homicide .................................... 34

Identification ............................... 34

Joinder / Severance ................... 35

Judge / Direction / Discretion /

Summing Up .............................. 36

Leave (CFA)............................... 40

Lies............................................. 42

Magistrate .................................. 44

Obscene Articles ........................ 48

OSCO......................................... 48

Page No

Plea ............................................50

Practice & Procedure..................51

Prosecutor / Prosecutions...........63

Proviso........................................65

Road Traffic ................................66

Sentence Quantum Arms & Ammunition ................ 68

Assault / Wounding ................. 68

Blackmail................................. 70

Bribery / Corruption / ICAC...... 71

C & E ...................................... 74

Dangerous Drugs .................... 77

Environmental Protection ........ 94

Explosive / Explosion .............. 94

False Instruments ................... 95

Foreign Exchange ................... 97

Forging Bank Note .................. 98

Homicide ................................. 99

Immigration ........................... 100

Kidnapping ............................ 104

Obscene Articles................... 105

Road Traffic .......................... 109

Robbery ................................ 112

Sexual Offence ..................... 115

Theft / Handling / Deception.. 119

Triad...................................... 123

Vice....................................... 123

Sentence (Principles)................125

Sexual Offence .........................140

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Page No

Statement / Admissions /

Voire Dire ................................. 141

Stay of Proceedings ................. 142

Telecommunication .................. 144

Page No

Theft / Handling / Deception ......144

Verdict ......................................145

Witness.....................................147

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����������

Page

APPEAL/PROCEDURE

Appeal after guilty plea/Accused admitting false set of facts/Appeal to be allowed if doubts exist/No duty on court to decide if Appellant had committed some other offence .......................................................................... 1

Review of magistrate/Time limits/Effect of limitations in different ordinances considered...................................... 1

BOR

Extent of court’s duty to direct child witness to tell truth/Section 4 Cap 8 not invalid under ICCPR/Procedure for admissibility of video-recording considered/Appeals to be prosecuted timeously/Observations on duty of counsel to sign notice of motion ........................................................................ 3

BRIBERY/CORRUPTION/ICAC

Section 13 POBO/Abrogation of common law privilege against self-incrimination/Resolve of community to combat corruption vigorously/Comments on need to identify points of law allegedly deserving of certification ............................................................................................................................................................... 5

Public servant accepting an advantage/Capacity not to be equated with duty/Off-duty police officer acting as protector of business establishments/Status examined .......................................................................................... 6

C & E

Not necessary to identify person assisted when contravention of s 18A Cap 60 alleged/Requirements of District Judge giving Reasons for Verdict/Not necessary for judge to state he has directed himself on lies/Drawing of adverse inference where accused declines to testify ........................................................................ 7

Attempting to import goods to which forged trade marks applied/Goods seized at Hung Hom Cargo Yard/Whether goods in transit .................................................................................................................................. 8

CHARACTER

Good character/No specific direction by judge sitting alone/Assumption that good character given due weight in absence of contrary indication................................................................................................................... 9

Cross-examination on bad character/Leave to cross-examine desirable/Questions about acquittal/Absence of directions on bad character/Counsel’� duty where trial judge fails to give direction to jury on

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law/Compelling prosecution case necessitates scrupulous fairness and impartiality/ Inappropriate interruptions ............................................................................................................................................................ 10

Magistrate not directing himself on relevance of good character of accused/Such direction sometimes appropriate .............................................................................................................................................................. 11

Character directions/Rigid regime applicable in England not relevant/Wide margin of assessment in trial judge/Ultimate test of whether summing-up fair and balanced ............................................................................... 11

CHARGE/INDICTMENT/SUMMONS/AMENDMENTS

Amendment of charge proper after departure of witness/No injustice in refusal to stay proceedings/Discrepancies in original statements not apparent from certified translations .................................... 13

Possession of arms/Section 13 Cap 238/Whether duplicity/Guilt established in two different ways/Standard majority direction insufficient/Necessity for jury to be directed that at least five must be sure guilt established on one or other evidential basis/No miscarriage of justice/Proviso ...................................................... 13

Traffic summonses/Failure to allege particulars not fatal/Mistake particularization of location and date not sufficient to vitiate conviction................................................................................................................................. 14

Guilty plea in magistracy/Prosecution amending charge and seeking transfer to District Court/Powers of prosecuting authority/Effect of s 19 Cap 227.......................................................................................................... 15

Acts tending to pervert the course of public justice/Drafting of charge .................................................................. 16

CONSPIRACY

Co-conspirators rule/Admissibility of evidence/Acts and declarations made in pursuance of common

purpose.................................................................................................................................................................... 17

CORROBORATION

Sexual case/Distress as corroboration/Distress and identity considered ................................................................. 17

COSTS

Acquittal after trial by jury/Refusal of costs order/No basis for appeal to Court of Appeal ................................... 18

Obscene article offences require deterrent sentences/Costs not to be used to punish third party/Prison term not to be increased because of unwillingness to pay costs/Disparity in sentencing undesirable ............................. 18

Costs in Criminal Cases Ordinance/Ordinance not retrospective/Costs not recoverable where offence occurred prior to effective date of Ordinance ......................................................................................................... 20

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COUNSEL

Cross-examination on bad character/Leave to cross-examine desirable/Questions about acquittal/Absence of directions on bad character/Counsel’s duty where trial judge fails to give direction to jury on law/Compelling prosecution case necessitates scrupulous fairness and impartiality/ Inappropriate interruptions ............................................................................................................................................................ 21

Counsel wrong to appeal to sympathetic emotions of the jury/Jury not concerned with matters of sentence.......... 22

Counsel not challenging post records of caution/Effect of evidence not appreciated/Flagrantly incompetent advocacy ................................................................................................................................................................. 22

Impropriety of counsel interrupting summing-up to correct direction on law/Time for intervention/Mistake of fact to be immediately corrected ......................................................................................................................... 23

Accused not testifying/Terms of legal advice on giving evidence/Practice of accused endorsing brief to indicate understanding to be encouraged/Unwarranted attack on trial counsel ....................................................... 23

Counsel discussing case with another judge/Counsel wrong to seek to influence court by reference to view of another judge/Counsel not to refer to judge in familiar terms in formal hearing ................................................ 24

DANGEROUS DRUGS

Discharge at trial on counts of trafficking in dangerous drugs/When accused in airport transit/Section 4 Cap 134 covers drugs in transit/Section ......................................................................................................................... 24

DISCLOSURE

Disclosure by prosecution/Test in Keane applied ................................................................................................... 26

DISTRICT COURT

Duties of District Judge/Evaluation of weaknesses in prosecution case/Judge having heard the evidence ............. 26

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

Noise Control Ordinance/Objectives of legislation/Strict liability.......................................................................... 27

Noise abatement notice/Whether notice ultra vires/Scope of authority of Noise Control Authority under Noise Control Ordinance......................................................................................................................................... 28

Noise abatement notice/Discharge upon compliance/Notice not of perpetual validity/Mere creation of excessive noise not an offence ................................................................................................................................ 29

EVIDENCE

Absent evidence/Whether fair trial possible/Conjecture as to relevance/Evidence overwhelming ......................... 30

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Admissibility of evidence obtained by trick/Police pretending to be cell-mates/Police acting as eavesdropping spectators/Trial judge’� refusal to exclude evidence....................................................................... 31

Magistrate evaluating evidence/Realistic approach of appellate court/Criteria applicable to consideration of discrepancies ........................................................................................................................................................... 32

EXPERTS

Questions by court/Magistrate asking over 90% of questions/Interventions prevented fair trial/Need to establish status of expert ......................................................................................................................................... 32

GAMBLING

Gambling authorization/Approach of court to requirement that issuing superintendent should have reasonable suspicion/Inconceivable that authorization would be signed in absence of reasonable suspicion/Effect of gambling authorization............................................................................................................. 33

HOMICIDE

Alternative verdict of manslaughter not left to jury/No duty on judge to raise every conceivable verdict/Possible line of complaint if manslaughter wrongly left to jury.................................................................. 34

IDENTIFICATION

When Turnbull direction required/Defence of concoction or mistake .................................................................... 34

JOINDER/SEVERANCE

Robbery charge and related imitation firearm charge wrongly severed/Accused subjected to two trials on practically same facts/Practice not to be repeated/Duty on magistrates to be vigilant to enquire into reasons for severance if charges apparently closely linked .................................................................................................. 35

JUDGE/DIRECTION/DISCRETION/SUMMING UP

Unrepresented accused calling co-accused to testify/Co-accused giving damaging testimony/Extent of duty of judge to advise accused upon calling co-accused ............................................................................................... 36

Reasons for sentence/Duty on judge to provide clear reasons/Loss of time normal if appeal unmeritorious.......... 37

Judge’� extensive interruptions/Judge not required to remain silent and watch justice miscarry/Judge may

intervene to ensure trial is fair and efficient ............................................................................................................ 37

Case to answer/Judge stopping case/Importance of protection of trial by jury/Judge must not usurp function of jury...................................................................................................................................................................... 38

Clumsy and inappropriate language by trial judge/Not all such language amounts to material

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irregularity/Application of proviso.......................................................................................................................... 38

Judge must not place witness in special position/Witness to remain in reach of jury’� criticism ............................ 39

LEAVE (CFA)

Application for leave to appeal/Very heavy burden on applicant/CFA not a second court of criminal appeal ....... 40

Point of law of great and general public importance/Point must be at least reasonably arguable ........................... 40

Leave to appeal on basis of substantial and grave injustice/True meaning of second limb of s 32(2) Cap 484/Primary role of CFA to resolve real controversy on points of law of great and general importance/Second limb on residual safeguard for rare cases................................................................................. 40

Court of Appeal granting certificate/Whether Appeal Committee required to grant leave/Answer to certified point plain and obvious ........................................................................................................................................... 41

LIES

Evidential status of lies/Guidelines on directions to be given to jury on lies/Direction to jury on flight ................ 42

MAGISTRATE

Young offender sentenced with co-accused in magistracy/Magistrate declining to remit case to juvenile court/Magistrate acting within his powers............................................................................................................... 44

Section 119(1) Cap 227/No power on appeal to make primary findings of fact/Remitting case to magistrate ....... 44

Interventions by magistrate/Questions to be asked on appeal ................................................................................. 44

Magistrate inviting counsel to submit on only one issue/Magistrate convicting on basis of other issues/ Situation not remedied by review/Limit to reliance to be placed upon demeanour................................................. 45

Two sets of reasons for conviction/Difference in reasoning/Impression that court uncertain ................................. 46

Questions by court/Magistrate asking over 90% of questions/Interventions prevented fair trial/Need to establish status of expert ......................................................................................................................................... 46

Magistrate asking prosecutor to call further evidence/Duty of prosecutor to call evidence at appropriate time ......................................................................................................................................................................... 47

OBSCENE ARTICLES

Publishing obscene articles/Posting of pictures on Internet/Whether Article /Whether

�ublication /Whether publication to public or section of the public ...................................................................... 48

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OSCO

Restraint orders/Conditional intention to charge not sufficient under s 14 OSCO/Settled intention required to ground restraint orders ........................................................................................................................................ 48

PLEA

Appeal after guilty plea/Plea entered after adverse ruling on voire dire/Admitted facts supported charge............. 50

Appeal against conviction after guilty plea/Plea related to concern over baby/Accused must enter plea voluntarily ............................................................................................................................................................... 50

PRACTICE & PROCEDURE

English �ACE rules not applicable to Hong Hong/ Departure from 1992 Rules does not automatically

render evidence inadmissible .................................................................................................................................. 51

Guilty plea in magistracy/Prosecution amending charge and seeking transfer to District Court/Powers of prosecuting authority/Effect of s 19 Cap 227.......................................................................................................... 51

Mitigation involving sensitive material/Hearing in open court not in public interest/Chambers hearing for sensitive material only/Advance notice to be given to court/No direct reference to be made by judge to sensitive material heard in chambers....................................................................................................................... 53

Trial proceeding in absence of accused/Addition of new charge/Factors to be considered in exercise of discretion whether to proceed ................................................................................................................................. 54

Challenge to extension of time by single judge/Community service order passed on sex offender/Gravity of indecent assaults upon child/Custodial sentence required....................................................................................... 55

Application of s.27 of OSCO/Enhanced sentencing for organized crime/Guidelines for enhancement of sentence/Leaving lesser charge on the court file ..................................................................................................... 57

Role of appellate court hearing appeal from magistracy ......................................................................................... 58

Impropriety of counsel interrupting summing-up to correct direction on law/Time for intervention/Mistake of fact to be immediately corrected ......................................................................................................................... 58

Letter of request/Evidence obtained abroad/Procedures to be followed/Nature of deposition/Prosecutor from Hong Kong not to act as examiner for purposes of taking evidence............................................................... 59

Reference by prosecutor to failure of accused to testify/ Submissions of law and fact distinguished/Breach of s 54(1)(b) Cap 221 does not automatically necessitate retrial/Single judge able to ignore improper comment.................................................................................................................................................................. 61

PROSECUTOR/PROSECUTIONS

Mitigation involving sensitive material/Hearing in open court not in public interest/Chambers hearing for

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sensitive material only/Advance notice to be given to court/No direct reference to be made by judge to sensitive material heard in chambers....................................................................................................................... 63

PROVISO

Clumsy and inappropriate language by trial judge/Not all such language amounts to material irregularity/Application of proviso.......................................................................................................................... 65

Certificate of law/Applicant not suggesting law misunderstood/Whether appropriate to certify where law misapplied to facts................................................................................................................................................... 65

ROAD TRAFFIC

Traffic summonses/Failure to allege particulars not fatal/Mistake particularization of location and date not sufficient to vitiate conviction................................................................................................................................. 66

Careless driving/Magistrate relying on own knowledge of road layout/Such knowledge not judicial notice/Fundamental error by court .......................................................................................................................... 67

SENTENCE QUANTUM

Arms & Ammunition

Armed robbery/Use of firearm to resist arrest/Gravity of offences ......................................................................... 68

Assault/Wounding

Assault on police/Drunken defendant/Such assaults deserve custodial sentences................................................... 68

Hospital order without limit of time/Experts unsure as to period of treatment required/Release after consideration by Mental Health Tribunal................................................................................................................ 69

Fine/Lawyer of accused inviting court to impose financial penalty/Obligation on accused to provide information to court on his financial position/Court entitled to assume reasonable fine within capacity to pay........................................................................................................................................................................... 69

Blackmail

Blackmail/Threat to contaminate foodstuffs/Seriousness of offence/Lay in threat/Sentence required to punish and to deter/No need for Newton enquiry if mitigation far-fetched/Sentence for assault on police

officer...................................................................................................................................................................... 70

Bribery/Corruption/ICAC

Illegal electoral practices/Corrupt and Illegal Practices Ordinance/Gravity of offence/Imprisonment necessary as deterrent/Need to protect international reputation/Sentencing guideline............................................ 71

Accepting an advantage/Private sector corruption as serious as public sector corruption/Dangers of spread

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of local corruption/ Meritorious record of Appellant relevant ................................................................................ 72

Offering advantage to public servant/Community service order �ubstituted with imprisonment/Sentencing

considerations.......................................................................................................................................................... 73

C & E

Forged trade mark offences/Aggravating factors/Adverse effect on international reputation of Hong Kong/Calculation of fines ....................................................................................................................................... 74

Possession of infringing discs/Gravity of copyright offences/ Comments upon training centre.............................. 75

Forfeiture proceedings/Sole obligation on applicant to show goods liable to forfeiture/Claimant acquitted after no evidence offered/Acquittals a formality not related to merits/Forfeiture open after acquittal at trial......... 75

Copyright offences/Need for deterrence/Quantity of infringing discs a relevant factor .......................................... 77

Dangerous Drugs

Drug addict/Suspended sentence of imprisonment/Condition of residence in treatment home/Breach of condition after alleged cure/Activation of sentence ................................................................................................ 77

Two counts of trafficking in dangerous drugs/Counts related to drugs found on accused when arrested and when premises searched/Court right to aggregate amount of drugs in determining starting point .......................... 78

Not appropriate to adhere to strict mathematical calculation in fixing starting point/Adding two quantities of dangerous drug together to produce sentence appropriate to the total quantity .................................................. 79

Confiscation order/Recovery of proceeds under Cap 405/Sentence of imprisonment in default of payment/Assistance to authorities/Protective custody............................................................................................. 79

Registered medical practitioner failing to keep proper dangerous drug register and failing to keep dangerous drugs secure/First time immediate custodial sentences imposed/Gravity of offences/Sentencing considerations.......................................................................................................................................................... 80

Possession of small quantity of dangerous drugs/ Recidivist/Range of sentence for simple possession cases/Court entitled to take account of prevalence in area ...................................................................................... 81

Trafficking in midazolam maleate tablets/Sentencing approach ............................................................................. 82

Serious offence/Both applicant and husband in prison/Neither parent available to look after children .................. 82

Ecstasy/New guidelines/Sentencing considerations ................................................................................................ 83

Simple possession of less than one gramme of �ce /Comparable to heroin/Twelve month starting point .............. 85

Trafficking in dangerous drugs/Very little credit attaching to previous good character.......................................... 85

Trafficking in ICE/Remorse : whether genuine/Latent risk factor .......................................................................... 86

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Assistance to police/Evaluation of assistance/Ability to assist, not willingness, relevant/Confederate absconding .............................................................................................................................................................. 86

Discount for guilty plea/Plea not tendered at outset/Combining narcotics offences for purpose of assessing starting point ........................................................................................................................................................... 87

MDMA (Ecstasy) sentencing guidelines/Applicant not entitled to benefit of guidelines issued long after offence/Floodgate not to be opened ........................................................................................................................ 87

Offer to plead guilty to lesser offence rejected by prosecution/Accused convicted of lesser offence/Right to customary discount/Considerations relevant to enhancement of sentence due to latent risk factor in possession of dangerous drugs ................................................................................................................................ 89

Starting point/Comments on need for sentencer to indicate starting point/DATC not appropriate for hardened addict ....................................................................................................................................................... 90

Trafficking in heroin/Offender aged 15 years/Prison necessary to deter/Training centre order not appropriate .............................................................................................................................................................. 91

Possession of Part I poison and antibiotics/Repeat offender/ Custodial sentence proper.........................................91

Section 25 Cap 405/Conviction for trafficking not pre-requisite for conviction for dealing with proceeds/Consideration of phrase �nowing or having reasonable grounds to believe /Onus on

prosecution/Subjective and objective elements........................................................................................................92

Combining narcotics offences for sentencing where close nexus/ Sentence for trafficking in herbal cannabis/Sentence for possession of �ce /Sentence for possession of midazolam.................................................. 93

Environmental Protection

Noise Control Ordinance/Penalties required to reflect society’� concern over pollution/Low fines an

incentive to commit future breaches........................................................................................................................ 94

Explosive/Explosion

Possession of explosive substances/Discount of one-third not a hard and fast rule/Applicant a hired assassin/Explosives intended for use to intimidate local businessman/Judge taking account of full background by agreement ....................................................................................................................................... 94

False Instruments

Multiple offences of forgery/Gross breach of trust by company accountant/Reason required not granting customary one-third discount .................................................................................................................................. 95

Clear record/Whether deterrent sentence appropriate for first offender/Forgery a serious offence ........................ 95

Commercial fraud/Breach of trust/Discount of 50% not justified despite powerful mitigation............................... 96

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Foreign Exchange

Sentencing under Leveraged Foreign Exchange Trading Ordinance/Regard to be had to maximum penalties/Sentencing for multiple �ffences/Gravamen of offences.......................................................................... 97

Forging Bank Note

Conspiracy to forge banknotes/Escape to China/Court right to disregard the years since commission of offence/Custody in China a matter solely for consideration of trial judge/Impact of custody in China upon remission ................................................................................................................................................................. 98

Homicide

Mitigation/Offer to plead guilty to manslaughter prior to trial : no actual plea/Remorse expressed in challenged cautioned statements/No guidelines in manslaughter cases/Absence of starting point.......................... 99

Murder/Young offender under 18 years/Little mitigation/29 years imprisonment appropriate ........................... 100

Immigration

Assisting passage of unlawful entrants/Passage of unlawful entrants already in Hong Kong to be distinguished from carriage of unlawful entrants into Hong Kong/Taxi driver not in same category as captain of ship ....................................................................................................................................................... 100

False representation to immigration officer/Distinction to be drawn between offences where forged travel documents touch upon comity of nations and offences involving forged letters of support for domestic servants ................................................................................................................................................................. 101

Pakistani in possession of forged Hong Kong identity card/Fifteen months imprisonment for this type of

offender appropriate for the future ........................................................................................................................ 102

Possession of forged identity card/Dire family circumstances/ Sentencing considerations................................... 102

Possession of identity card of another/Accused lawfully in Hong Kong/Sentencing considerations .................... 103

Company employing person not lawfully employable/Effect of increase in penalty/Element of deterrence in sentencing.............................................................................................................................................................. 104

Kindapping

Kidnapping for ransom/Victim chloroformed and detained/ Comments on gravity of offence............................. 104

Obscence Articles

Possession of obscene articles/When immediate custodial sentences appropriate/Disparity in sentencing causing grievance/Community Service Order ....................................................................................................... 105

Obscene article offences require deterrent sentences/Costs not to be used to punish third party/Prison term not to be increased because of unwillingness to pay costs/Disparity in sentencing undesirable ........................... 106

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Possession of obscene article for publication/Displaying an indecent matter/Sentence ........................................ 107

Publishing obscene articles on Internet/Depravity of worst sort/Deterrence in personam and in rem/Offenders to be punished without mercy........................................................................................................ 107

Obscenity offences/Repetitious conduct an aggravating factor/Court must view tapes/Prevalence and totality ................................................................................................................................................................... 109

Road Traffic

Driving with alcohol concentration above limit/Sentencing considerations/Relevance of Appellant’� status

as police officer facing disciplinary proceedings .................................................................................................. 109

Driving with excess alcohol/Death and injury resulting/Impact on appeal of death occurring subsequent to sentence/Effect of adjourning for reports/Unmeritorious appeal initiated on legal advice/Sentencing range of 3 to 6 months proper ......................................................................................................................................... 111

Robbery

Armed robbery/Use of firearm to resist arrest/Gravity of offences ....................................................................... 112

Armed robbery of watch and goldsmith company/Shots fired/Starting point/When Newton enquiry required/Injuries sustained by accused in shoot-out not mitigation....................................................................... 112

Robbery of lone women/Court must give reasons for not granting full one-third discount for guilty plea/Rationale for one-third discount .................................................................................................................... 114

Conspiracy to rob/Handgun carried/Gravity of offence/Effect of assistance to police.......................................... 114

Taxi robbery/19 year old defendant cannot rely on youth/ Clear record of little relevance/Court increasing sentence on appeal ................................................................................................................................................ 115

Sexual Offence

Hospital order/Effect of magistrate not specifying whether proviso to s 47 (2) Cap 136 applied/Variation of hospital order to ensure immediate repatriation .................................................................................................... 115

Indecent assaults on mental defective/Aggravating factors/Discount for guilty pleas/Duty of judge to indicate why customary discount denied/Vilification of victim by accused demonstrated absence of remorse .... 116

Indecent assault on boy/Some indecent assaults more serious than consensual buggery offences/Worst case scenario considered/Effects on victim................................................................................................................... 117

Challenge to extension of time by single judge/Community service order passed on sex offender/Gravity of indecent assaults upon child/Custodial sentence required..................................................................................... 118

Indecent assault/Teacher abusing pupil/Imprisonment proper/ Community service order not appropriate........... 119

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Theft/Handling/Deception

Breach of trust of magnitude/No restitution or remorse/Low sentence provided no deterrence/High starting point required ........................................................................................................................................................ 119

Pickpocketing tariff/When enhanced starting point appropriate/ Lesser discount permissible where accused caught red-handed ................................................................................................................................................. 120

Commercial fraud/Breach of trust/Discount of 50% not justified despite powerful mitigation............................. 121

Evasion of liability by deception/Intent to make permanent default not ingredient of offence/Court allowing appeal by case stated may order resumption of trial in District Court................................................................... 122

Pickpocket/Sentence after trial where thieves act in concert................................................................................. 122

Triad

Acting as member of triad society/Protection of nightclubs by triad societies ...................................................... 123

MOTS/No active participation/Level of sentence after trial ................................................................................. 123

Vice

Assisting in management of vice establishment/Entering premises under closure order/Large-scale operation involving importation of girls from mainland ....................................................................................... 123

Vice establishment manager/Prison and fine proper/Fine appropriate in absence of proof of profit from premises/No power to order that fine be paid from bail without consent.............................................................. 124

SENTENCE (PRINCIPLES)

Entrapment/Factor to be taken into account/Substantial mitigating factor ............................................................ 125

Offence on bail/Unquestionably an aggravating factor/Higher starting point justified than that used for co-accused.................................................................................................................................................................. 125

Criminal record not reason to raise starting point/Reduction in discount permissible if accused absconds .......... 125

Accused absconding/Voluntary surrender/Effect on discount for guilty plea/Consequences of absconding examined ............................................................................................................................................................... 126

Discount for guilty plea/Lengthy sentences measured in years or half years/Rounding up of figure not justified where accused promised discount of one-third ....................................................................................... 127

Multiple offences/Series of short consecutive sentences not appropriate/Each offence to be separately evaluated/ Concurrent sentences preferable .......................................................................................................... 127

Multiple charges/Series of short consecutive sentences inappropriate/Concurrent sentences legitimate subject to totality................................................................................................................................................... 128

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Previous conviction for same offence/Earlier conviction contrary to prosecution policy of the day/Effect of earlier conviction on sentence ............................................................................................................................... 128

Entrapment/Test applicable/Legitimate trap set by police attracts no discount/Police not to be discouraged....... 128

Entrapment of young and naive person/Powerful mitigating factor ...................................................................... 129

OSCO/Section 27/Enhanced sentencing/Substantial planning and organisation necessary/When increase in excess of 50% appropriate .................................................................................................................................... 129

Community service order/Restriction on sending for reports................................................................................ 130

Conspiracy to rob/Handgun carried/Gravity of offence/Effect of assistance to police.......................................... 131

District Court sentencing jurisdiction/Activation of suspended sentences/Total sentences in excess of seven years ...................................................................................................................................................................... 131

Guilty plea/Court must give reasons for not granting customary discount of one-third ........................................ 132

District Court sentencing jurisdiction/Degree of discount from maximum of 7 years/Meaningful discount to be given................................................................................................................................................................. 132

Application of s.27 of OSCO/Enhanced sentencing for organized crime/Guidelines for enhancement of sentence/Leaving lesser charge on the court file ................................................................................................... 133

Confiscation order/Implementation of s 8 of OSCO/Order is mandatory where proper procedure has been followed and conditions set by the Ordinance are fulfilled/No discretion in court even when genuine claims to money being confiscated emanated from victims of crime/Orders of compensation and restitution inappropriate due to complexity of civil claims .................................................................................................... 134

Offer to plead guilty to lesser offence rejected by prosecution/Accused convicted of lesser offence/Right to customary discount/Considerations relevant to enhancement of sentence due to latent risk factor in possession of dangerous drugs .............................................................................................................................. 136

Enhanced sentencing under OSCO/Prevalence of offence/Prior warning desirable.............................................. 137

Sentencing practice/Co-accused to be sentenced by same judge wherever possible/Duty on prosecution to remind court of practice ........................................................................................................................................ 138

Fraud/Breach of trust/Effect of delay in prosecuting/ Restitution no reason to suspend sentence/Significance of restitution....................................................................................................................... 139

SEXUAL OFFENCE

Sexual case/Distress as corroboration/Distress and identity considered ............................................................... 140

ccab 1998 subject index

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STATEMENT/ADMISSIONS/VOIRE DIRE

Cautioned statement/Allegation of impropriety/Extent of duty on prosecution to establish voluntariness considered ............................................................................................................................................................. 141

Evidence given on voire dire by defence witness/Relevance of voire dire evidence to general issue................... 141

Rules and Directions not to be given to jury/Observations on interruption by judge of final speech of defence counsel ..................................................................................................................................................... 142

STAY OF PROCEEDINGS

Magistrate staying trial at request of defence/Absent prosecution witnesses/Circumstances in which it is proper to stop a trial/Observations upon need to process case stated appeals with celerity .................................. 142

TELECOMMUNICATION

Telecommunications Ordinance offences/Strict liability/ Applicant knowingly making use of another sufficient for guilt.................................................................................................................................................. 144

THEFT/HANDLING/DECEPTION

Handling stolen goods/Recent possession/Inference of guilty knowledge drawn where no explanation offered/General rule equally applicable where no physical handling occurs......................................................... 144

VERDICT

Good character direction not necessary in oral reasons for verdict/Magistrate entitled to give brief oral reasons followed later by Statement of Findings/Extent of magistrate’� duty to provide reasons ......................... 145

Inconsistent verdicts/Extent of duty to challenge in cross-examination witness in respect of whom it was intended to suggest untruthfulness ........................................................................................................................ 146

WITNESS

Extent of court’� duty to direct child witness to tell truth/Section 4 Cap 8 not invalid under

ICCPR/Procedure for admissibility of video-recording considered/Appeals to be prosecuted timeously/Observations on duty of counsel to sign notice of motion .................................................................... 147

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Page No

A

absconding ----------------------------125, 126 adverse inference ------------------------------8 assistance to police---------86, 114-115, 131 assumption of good character given due weight------------------------------9

B

bad character (XXN of accused)-------10, 21 breach of trust----------------------------------- -----95, 96, 116-117, 119-120, 121-122, 139-140

C

certificate of law ----------------------------- 65 child witness------------------------ 3, 147-148 co-accused (called to testify)--------------- 36 common purpose----------------------------- 17 community service order-- 73, 118, 119, 130 confiscation order ----------------79, 134-136 costs ------------------------------------------106 cross-examination --------------------------146

D

demeanour of witness ----------------------- 45 disclosure ------------------------------------- 26 discount of one-third -----114, 116, 127, 132 discrepancies (of evidence)----------------- 32 disparity---------------------------- 18, 105,106 distress (as corroboration) ----------- 17, 140 drugs in transit------------------------------- 24 duplicity--------------------------------------- 13

Page No

E

eavesdropping --------------------------------31 ecstasy (MDMA) ------------------------ 83, 87 enhanced sentence ------------------------------ -------- 120, 122, 129-130, 133-134, 137-138 entrapment -----------------------125, 128-129 evidence obtained by trick ------------------31 extension of time --------------------------- 118

F

failure of accused to testify -----------------61 fine ---------------------------------------69, 124 flagrantly incompetent-----------------------22 flight (as corroboration) --------------------42 foreign exchange -----------------------------97 forfeiture proceedings -----------------------75

G

good character ------------------------145-146 goods in transit -------------------------------- 8 great and general public importance------40

H

hired assassin---------------------------------94 hospital order--------------------- 69, 115-116

I

impropriety (of counsel)---------------- 23, 58 internet ----------------------------------48, 107 intervention (by judge/magistrate) ----------- 46, 58, 142

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Page No

J

judicial notice -------------------------------- 67 juvenile court--------------------------------- 44

L

leaving charge on court file --57, 133-134 letter of request ------------------------------ 59 lies --------------------------------------------- 42

M

midazolam ------------------------------------ 82 mitigation involving sensitive materials--------------------------------53, 63 mitigation (relevance of facing disciplinary proceedings) ---------------110 multiple offences ----------------127, 128, 129

N

Newton enquiry -------------------70, 112-113 noise control------------------------- 27, 28, 94

P

particulars of charges----------------------- 66 proceeds of drug trafficking---------------- 92 publication------------------------------------ 48

Page No

Q

questions by court----------------------------32

R

recent possession----------------------144-145 restitution ------------------------------139-140 restraint order --------------------------------48 resumption of trial in District Court----- 122

S

sentencing jurisdiction of District Court----------------------- 131, 132 sentencing practice -------------- 87, 138-139 stay--------------------------------------142-144 strict liability ---------------------------27, 144 substantial and grave injustice -------------40 subterfuge and eavesdropping--------------31 summing up -----------------------------------65

T

trial in absence of accused------------------54

V

video recording (of evidence)---------------- 3

Y

youth -------------------------------91, 100, 115

ccab 1998 words and phrases

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