COURT: Madam, stand up, please.
Madam, this is a very large quantity of “Ice” that you brought into Hong Kong from the mainland. I do of course take into account that you are a person of hitherto clear record.
I take into account your family circumstances. You are the mother of two young children; that is very unfortunate in these circumstances. I take into account also that there was little reward being offered for the services you were rendering and it was purely committed out of financial need.
Perhaps an important aspect of this case is that throughout you were co-operative with the authorities on being stopped and by trying to assist by way of a controlled drop. Unfortunately, whilst I do not take a purely mathematical approach it is within the upper band.
I also take into account that the point is well made by Mr Davies on your behalf that this was a train journey from the mainland rather than flying drugs in from other destinations. Whilst your part played in the trafficking of drugs was a small part, it is an essential cog in the evil wheel of drug trafficking.
Therefore, being as lenient as I can given my public duty, I take as a starting point 19 years’ imprisonment. There will be an enhancement of 1½ years, that is, 18 months. You have pleaded guilty and you are entitled to a full one-third discount, so the 20 years and 6 months is reduced to 13 years and 8 months.
So you will go to prison for a period of 13 years and 8 months.