HKSAR v. Shun Tak Properties Ltd

Read the full judgment text of HCMA 1014/2006 on BabelCite. This High Court CFI judgment was delivered on 9 January 2007.

1. In this appeal, a point has arisen as to whether or not what is called,  “the common-law offence,” is available to the Appellant who has been convicted under Regulation 4 of the Factories and Industrial Undertakings (Suspended Working Platforms) Regulations.

Case No.HCMA 1014/2006
Court
High Court CFI
Date09 Jan 2007
Judge
Case Document
100%Judiciary

HCMA1014/2006

IN THE HIGH COURT OF THE

HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION

COURT OF FIRST INSTANCE

MAGISTRACY APPEAL NO. HCMA1014/2006

(ON APPEAL FROM ESS 7775/2006)

_________________

BETWEEN

  HKSAR Respondent
  and  
  Shun Tak Properties Limited
(信德置業管理有限公司)
Appellant

_________________

Coram:  Deputy High Court Judge Line in Court

Dates of Hearing:  9 January 2007

Date of Judgment:  9 January 2007

________________

D E C I S I O N

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1.In this appeal, a point has arisen as to whether or not what is called,  “the common-law offence,” is available to the Appellant who has been convicted under Regulation 4 of the Factories and Industrial Undertakings (Suspended Working Platforms) Regulations.

2.There are different views at first instance on the general availability of such a defence, and it seems to me the matter needs to be resolved as a matter of some urgency because when such prosecutions or similar ones are undertaken in the Magistrates’ Court some magistrates say it applies, some do not. That is a an unsatisfactory state of affairs.

3.Accordingly, I am going to exercise, at the invitation of both parties, my power under Section 118(1)(d) to reserve the appeal to the Court of Appeal and that is the order I make today.

  (P Line)
Deputy High Court Judge

Representation:

Mr Joseph Wong, Senior Government Counsel, of the Department of Justice, for the Respondent

Mr Toby R W Jenkyn-Jones, instructed by Messrs Johnson, Stokes & Master, for the Appellant

Other Judgments in This Case

Further hearings and rulings under HCMA 1014/2006