Hong Kong Case Law: Decisions & Judgments | LexChat

Hong Kong Case Law

Executive non‑enforcement as mitigating factor
  • 10 Aug 1988

    THE QUEEN v. KONG WAI PAI

    Citation
    THE QUEEN v. KONG WAI PAI
    Court
    Court of First Instance
    Case number
    HCMA536/1988

    The Court affirmed that a 15‑month custodial sentence is the appropriate starting guideline for most offences under s38(1) Immigration Ordinance; mitigation is available for guilty pleas, voluntary surrender and strong humanitarian factors, and prior executive non‑enforcement may properly reduce sentence; previous unlawful entries and use of forged identity documents are aggravating. Applying these principles the Court dismissed the appeal of the repeat offender and reduced sentences of first‑time offenders to six months.