27 Mar 1981
THE QUEEN v. CHU MIU-TAK AND ANOTHER
- Citation
- THE QUEEN v. CHU MIU-TAK AND ANOTHER
- Court
- District Court
- Case number
- DCCC229/1980
Hong Kong courts possess the common‑law discretion to continue a trial in the absence of a defendant who has voluntarily and deliberately absconded while on bail; on the facts the 1st defendant here deliberately absconded after all prosecution evidence was adduced and after electing not to give evidence, and in the interests of justice the trial should continue; if the defendant later shows his absence was involuntary he may seek relief on that basis (including appeal).