HKSAR v. LAU KAN

HCMA862/98

IN THE HIGH COURT OF THE

HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION

COURT OF FIRST INSTANCE

(Appellate Jurisdiction)

MAGISTRACY APPEAL NO. 862 OF 1998

(On appeal from SPC3917 of 1998)

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J U D G M E N T

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1. The Appellant, LAU Kan, appeared before Mr David Duggan, Principal Magistrate at San Po Kong Magistracy on 21 July of this year, when he admitted a charge of possession of dangerous drugs. He had with him on arrest a small quantity of dangerous drugs - heroin - as a mixture it weighed 0.21 grammes, with 0.16 of heroin in the mixture.

2. The Appellant is now in his early 50s, he has a long string of convictions for possession of dangerous drugs dating back to 1976. He pleaded guilty before the learned magistrate. He was sentenced to 9 months' imprisonment and now complains that the length of that sentence is far too long.

3. Mr Duggan was well aware of the sentencing policy established by the Court of Appeal, that those who possess dangerous drugs should expect to be sent to prison, for meaningful periods of time. For a man with this Appellant's criminal record for abuse of dangerous drugs, even though the amount he possessed was small - probably no more than one "fix" - I cannot say that a period of imprisonment of 9 months is in any way manifestly excessive.

4. It would appear that Mr Duggan took into account the Appellant's plea of guilty, because he took a starting point of 12 months' imprisonment and reduced it by one quarter. He did not reduce it by any more than one quarter, because in his opinion the appellant had entered a late plea. Mr Duggan in no way departed from principle in doing that. In the circumstances the Appellant was not entitled to a one third discount from the 12 months.

5. The Appellant's appeal against sentence is dismissed.