23 Aug 2000
The magistrate's sentencing was within lawful discretion: 18 months imprisonment for possession of a forged identity card (adjusted upward from a 15 month guideline due to a prior similar conviction) and 28 days for overstaying are not excessive given the facts; therefore the appeal against sentence is dismissed.
26 Mar 1998
Where a prior conviction was obtained under the current prosecution policy it may be used to justify an enhanced sentence; where the prior conviction arose from proceedings that would not have been brought under the current prosecution policy it should not be relied upon for enhancement.
7 Mar 1997
Given the quantity of pure heroin (7.92 grams) and the tariff in R v Lau Tak-ming, a two year sentence, allowing for discount for guilty plea, was appropriate; the applicant's health and family circumstances did not amount to sufficient mitigation to warrant interference with the sentence; leave to appeal was refused.
21 Nov 1986
The court adopts the Eagles Eye 40% of market value as a guideline for fines for false trade descriptions but permits upward departure for aggravating factors; given a prior similar conviction a 50% rate of the assessed market value is appropriate, and the original fines are quashed and substituted accordingly.