R. v. Chung for Yam

Read the full judgment text of HCMA 845/1996 on BabelCite. This High Court CFI judgment was delivered on 19 September 1996.

1. This is an appeal against the sentence of 15 months' imprisonment which was imposed upon the appellant for remaining in Hong Kong without the permission of the Director of Immigration. There is only one point on this appeal. That is the disparity between the sentence imposed on this appellant and the sentence imposed on another defendant who was caught in identical circumstances in the same case. This other defendant was a 19 year old female. She was sentenced to 9 months' imprisonment. The l

Case No.HCMA 845/1996
Court
High Court CFI
Date19 Sep 1996
Judge
Case Document
100%Judiciary

HCMA000845/1996

IN THE SUPREME COURT

1996, No. 845
Magistracy Appeal

BETWEEN
THE QUEEN Respondent
AND
CHUNG FOR YAM Appellant

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Coram: Hon Mayo, J.A. in Court (sitting as an additional High Court Judge)

Date of hearing: 19 September 1996

Date of judgment: 19 September 1996

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J U D G M E N T

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Mayo, J.A.:

1. This is an appeal against the sentence of 15 months' imprisonment which was imposed upon the appellant for remaining in Hong Kong without the permission of the Director of Immigration. There is only one point on this appeal. That is the disparity between the sentence imposed on this appellant and the sentence imposed on another defendant who was caught in identical circumstances in the same case. This other defendant was a 19 year old female. She was sentenced to 9 months' imprisonment. The learned magistrate gave no reason for this disparity.

2. I think that the disparity can be described as a glaring disparity. The appeal comes within the scope of the considerations referred to in Lee Kwan Yim v. R. (unreported) being Crim App No. 727/81.

3. I consider that in all the circumstances of this case I have no alternative but to allow the appeal and substitute a sentence of 9 months' imprisonment for the term which was imposed.

Representation:

Mr David Leung for Crown Prosecutor

Mr H.Y. Wong (DLA) for Appellant

(Simon Mayo)
sitting as an additional High Court Judge