律政司司長 訴 黃之鋒及另二人

律政司司長 訴 黃之鋒及另二人

The Court of Appeal held the original non-custodial and suspended sentences were manifestly inadequate for the violent large-scale illegal assembly: the respondents knowingly planned and encouraged a mass entry into a closed government precinct, foresaw and caused a high risk of physical confrontation that resulted...

Source-derived case information.

Citation
律政司司長 訴 黃之鋒及另二人
Parties
Applicant: Secretary for Justice (律政司司長); First Respondent: 黃之鋒; Second Respondent: 羅冠聰; Third Respondent: 周永康
Court
Court of Appeal
Jurisdiction
Hong Kong
Judgment Date
17 August 2017
Case Number
CAAR4/2016
Procedural Posture
Sentence Review Under Criminal Procedure Ordinance S.81 a (review of Sentences for Unlawful Assembly Offences) / Court of Appeal Hearing and Judgment on Crown's Application to Review Sentences (appeal Granted)
Outcome
Crown's sentence review allowed; original sentences set aside and substituted with immediate custodial sentences
Legal Topics
Illegal Assembly, Sentencing Principles, Freedom of Assembly, Deterrence, Community Service Orders
Source Language
ct
Criminal Law Public Order Constitutional Law Human Rights Illegal Assembly Sentencing Principles Freedom of Assembly Deterrence +1 more

Source-derived case record

Summary, issues, holding and outcome

More case intelligence is available

Unlock the full research layer for this judgment.

Downloadable case file Legal principles 5 Authorities cited 13 Party arguments 2 Amounts and remedies 7
Sign in to unlock

Parties

Secretary for Justice (律政司司長)

Applicant

黃之鋒

First Respondent

羅冠聰

Second Respondent

周永康

Third Respondent

Procedural Posture

Sentence Review Under Criminal Procedure Ordinance S.81 a (review of Sentences for Unlawful Assembly Offences) / Court of Appeal Hearing and Judgment on Crown's Application to Review Sentences (appeal Granted)

  1. 1 Whether original sentences (community service and suspended imprisonment) were manifestly inadequate for offences of illegal assembly and incitement to illegal assembly
  2. 2 Whether defendants' conduct and the surrounding circumstances amounted to violent or foreseeable-violent illegal assembly warranting custodial sentences
  3. 3 Whether defendants had mens rea for incitement and whether self-help was a lawful defence

Ratio Decidendi

The Court of Appeal held the original non-custodial and suspended sentences were manifestly inadequate for the violent large-scale illegal assembly: the respondents knowingly planned and encouraged a mass entry into a closed government precinct, foresaw and caused a high risk of physical confrontation that resulted in injuries, and occupied leadership roles that increased culpability; deterrence and protection of public order required immediate custodial sentences. The Crown's review was allowed and the sentences were increased to immediate imprisonment: D1 six months, D2 eight months, D3 seven months.

Court Disposition

Crown's sentence review allowed; original sentences set aside and substituted with immediate custodial sentences

Orders

  • Quash original sentences and impose immediate imprisonment on First Respondent (黃之鋒) of 6 months for the second count
  • Quash original sentences and impose immediate imprisonment on Second Respondent (羅冠聰) of 8 months for the third count