12 Nov 2004
The magistrate's sentencing starting point and resulting total sentence of eight months' imprisonment was appropriate given the large quantity of infringing copies and the appellant's status as a proprietor; no exceptional circumstances existed to justify a non‑custodial sentence; appeal dismissed.
30 Nov 2000
The magistrate properly balanced deterrence and mitigation; the three-month immediate sentence was not manifestly excessive and thus not disturbed on appeal, but in the exceptional humanitarian circumstances of the appellant's pregnancy the court exercised its discretion to suspend that sentence for 18 months so she need not serve it immediately.
18 Dec 1998
Given the commercial scale (close to 2,000 pirated discs), the serious adverse impact on Hong Kong's trading relations, and established sentencing practice, an immediate custodial term of six months was appropriate and not manifestly excessive.
19 Aug 1998
Given the scale and open commercial nature of the offence, the magistrate's two-year starting point reduced by one-third for the guilty plea resulting in 16 months imprisonment was not manifestly excessive; the appeal against sentence is dismissed.
16 Sept 1997
The Court allowed the application and, applying the interests of justice, found the 30-year starting point was high and that the discount given for plea and the applicant's significant assistance was inadequate; the appropriate sentence reflecting gravity and mitigation is 16 years imprisonment, and the 20-year sentence was substituted accordingly.