Hong Kong Case Law: Decisions & Judgments | LexChat

Hong Kong Case Law

Definition of penalty
  • 22 Mar 1995

    THE QUEEN v. CHAN SUEN-HAY

    Citation
    THE QUEEN v. CHAN SUEN-HAY
    Court
    District Court
    Case number
    DCCC83/1994

    A discretionary disqualification order under section 168E is a penalty within the meaning of Article 12(1) of the Bill of Rights because it is imposed following conviction, has punitive elements (discretion, impact beyond the conviction, imprisonment for breach), and therefore section 168T's provision allowing retrospective disqualification for offences committed before s168E came into force conflicts with Article 12(1) and cannot be applied; the court has no power to make such retrospective orders under s168T.