Hong Kong Judgment

Court of First Instance

HKSAR v. NGAI KING YING

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Source document

01

Holding and result

The appeal was allowed and the prison term set aside because, considering the probation officer's detailed recommendation, the appellant's remorse, psychiatric treatment needs and support, the court concluded rehabilitation under an 18-month Probation Order with specified supervisory and treatment conditions was appropriate despite prior offending during probation; the court declined to impose a separate good behaviour/keep the peace condition based on authority.

Court disposition

Appeal allowed; original prison sentence set aside and substituted with an 18-month Probation Order

Orders

  • Original prison term set aside
  • Appellant to be placed on an 18-month Probation Order with conditions: (ii) keep in touch with the probation officer in accordance with instructions and permit home visits if required; (iii) keep attending regular psychiatric follow-up treatment and receive psychological services as directed by the probation officer; (iv) participate in any social, supportive or volunteer groups or programmes as directed by the probation officer
  • No separate condition of being of good behaviour or keeping the peace imposed

02

Material facts

Parties

Appellant

Appellant Counsel: Mr Giles Surman (instructed by Messrs Kent Tam & Co)

Respondent

Respondent Counsel: Ms Denise Chan (Department of Justice)

03

Procedural history

  1. Posture

    Criminal Appeal Against Sentence / Judgment on Appeal

04

Questions and positions

Legal issues

Party arguments

Applicant
The appellant relied on remorse, psychiatric needs and ongoing psychiatric treatment, strong family support and the probation officer's recommendation to set aside the prison term and substitute an 18-month Probation Order with specified supervisory and treatment conditions.
Respondent
The prosecution relied on the appellant's bad record and the fact that the present offence was committed while on probation to support the imposed prison term and to resist substitution with a probation order.

05

Court’s reasoning

  1. 01

    Probation officer's recommendation and sentencing principles applied by the court

    Probation is an available and appropriate sentencing option where rehabilitation in an open setting is justified by remorse, treatment needs and support structures.

  2. 02

    Lau Wai Wo v. HKSAR (2003) 6 HKCFAR 624 (Lord Scott of Foscote NPJ)

    A court need not impose an explicit condition of being of good behaviour or keeping the peace when making a probation order; further offending can be dealt with separately.

06

Ratio, limits and disposition

Ratio decidendi

The appeal was allowed and the prison term set aside because, considering the probation officer's detailed recommendation, the appellant's remorse, psychiatric treatment needs and support, the court concluded rehabilitation under an 18-month Probation Order with specified supervisory and treatment conditions was appropriate despite prior offending during probation; the court declined to impose a separate good behaviour/keep the peace condition based on authority.

Obiter and limits

  • If the appellant offends again during the probation period she can be dealt with for the further offence and also for the present offence.
  • The court expressed caution when making a fresh probation order after offending during a probation period but affirmed that rehabilitation can still justify such an order.

Court disposition

Appeal allowed; original prison sentence set aside and substituted with an 18-month Probation Order

  • Original prison term set aside
  • Appellant to be placed on an 18-month Probation Order with conditions: (ii) keep in touch with the probation officer in accordance with instructions and permit home visits if required; (iii) keep attending regular psychiatric follow-up treatment and receive psychological services as directed by the probation officer; (iv) participate in any social, supportive or volunteer groups or programmes as directed by the probation officer
  • No separate condition of being of good behaviour or keeping the peace imposed

Source and reliance status

Court of First Instance · 5 January 2010

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Judgment text

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Source document

Court of First Instance

Judgment· 5 January 2010

HKSAR v. NGAI KING YING

bjbj "^[ __ Before: The Honourable Mrs Justice V. Bokhary in Court Date of Hearing: 5 January 2010 Date of Judgment: 5 January 2010 ___

J U D G M E N T ___ Notwithstanding the Appellant s bad record and the fact she committed the present offence while on probation, the probation officer has, for good reason in my view, recommended probation. The probation officer says as follows: 18. The offences committed by the Accused in the past 2 years reflected that she was in need of further professional assistance, especially the impact of the recent imprisonment, despite for 10 days, had brought a great trauma and impact on her, deepening her shame and guilt and had exacerbated her mental state. In view of her remorse and motivation to reform herself through continuous psychiatric treatment and psychological intervention, coupled with the strong support from her husband, it is deemed that the Accused is deserved to give a further chance to be rehabilitated in an open setting. Should Your Ladyship share the same view, I would like to recommend the Accused to be put on an 18-month Probation Order with the following condition: she shall be of good behaviour and keep the peace; she shall keep in touch with the probation officer in accordance with such instructions as may from time to time be given by her probation officer; and in particular, that she shall, if the probation officer so requires, receive visits from the probation officer at her home; she shall keep on attending regular psychiatric follow-up

treatment and receive psychological service as directed by the probation officer; she shall participate in any social, supportive or volunteer groups or programmes as directed by her probation officer. In the light of what Lord Scott of Foscote NPJ said in Lau Wai Wo v. HKSAR (2003) 6 HKCFAR 624 at pp 648B-I, in relation to binding over but applicable also to probation, I do not propose to impose a condition about being of good behaviour or about keeping the peace. If the Appellant were to offend again, she can be dealt with for the further offence or offences and also for the present offence if the further offending takes place during this probation period. After pausing long as one must before making a fresh probation order when an offence has been committed during a probation period, I will, all things considered, allow the appeal against sentence to set aside the prison term imposed on the Appellant and substitute for it an order that she be put on probation for 18 months on conditions ii), iii) and iv) recommended by the probation officer. The appeal is allowed in these terms. (V. Bokhary) Judge of the Court of First Instance High Court Mr Giles Surman, instructed by Messrs Kent Tam & Co, for the Appellant Ms Denise Chan, of the Department of Justice, for the Respondent

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Authorities

Authorities used by the court

Cases, legislation, regulations, and constitutional provisions identified in the available record.

Lau Wai Wo v. HKSAR (2003) 6 HKCFAR 624

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