Author: Brian Wong

A Hong Kong dancer is seeking compensation after being injured by a collapsing screen during a concert by Cantopop band Mirror, potentially amounting to over HK$3.5 million (US$450,390). Mo Li Kai-yin, 30, filed the lawsuit in February under the Employees’ Compensation Ordinance due to being paralyzed from the neck down. If deemed permanently incapacitated, he could receive the substantial sum. Li’s lawyer mentioned a potential personal injury lawsuit against Studiodanz, the company employing the dancers at the ill-fated concert in July 2022 at Hong Kong Coliseum. Mo Li, 30, was paralysed from the neck down after he was hit by…

A Hong Kong court has decided against having a jury in former media tycoon Jimmy Lai Chee-ying’s defamation trial against a pro-Beijing newspaper due to the complex legal disputes and vast amount of evidence involved. Despite the decision, the court criticized Ta Kung Pao for seeking nearly HK$1 million in legal expenses from Lai for his unsuccessful application, deeming it unjustifiable. Lai, 76, wanted to sue the state-owned Chinese newspaper over an article implying he would flee to avoid legal issues before Hong Kong implemented the national security law. Lai’s counsel argued that Ta Kung Pao was on a smear…

Hong Kong’s top judges are questioning a government body’s assertion that discriminatory treatment based on sexual orientation is sanctioned by the city’s mini-constitution. This debate arises as the Court of Final Appeal considers a final appeal regarding housing rights for same-sex couples. The Housing Authority is defending its policies on public rental and subsidized housing, despite two previous rulings deeming them unconstitutional. Currently, the authority restricts public rental housing to traditional families and prohibits gay couples from residing together in subsidized flats under the Home Ownership Scheme. In 2020, Nick Infinger successfully challenged the authority’s refusal to allow him and…

A Hong Kong court has sentenced a third person convicted of sedition under the domestic national security law to 14 months in prison, ruling he defied the nation’s sovereignty and instigated hatred towards officials with persistent calls for “dictators” Xi Jinping and John Lee Ka-chiu to step down. The court heard the jobless defendant posted 239 largely repetitive videos and images featuring anti-government slogans on three social media platforms between March 23 and June 19 this year. The slogans included statements suggesting peace would return to Hong Kong, Taiwan and the world if Chief Executive Lee, President Xi and the…

Amidst allegations of sexual assault involving a district councillor and an underage girl, Hong Kong authorities have promised strict monitoring and potential disciplinary action. Sei Chun-hing, an elected official in the Yuen Long district council, is facing criminal allegations dating back to 2008 when the girl was only 11 years old. The Home Affairs Department has acknowledged the seriousness of the accusations and stated that they would consider launching their own investigation based on the case’s outcome. Emphasizing the importance of integrity and conduct, the government spokesperson highlighted that offenders will face legal consequences. With the electoral system overhaul last…

Hong Kong’s Chief Magistrate Calls for Severe Penalties for Sedition Offenders Hong Kong’s top magistrate has emphasized the importance of imposing “severe” penalties on individuals who commit sedition by inciting hatred against the authorities. This statement comes as two men were sentenced to up to 14 months in jail for displaying anti-government slogans, marking the first convictions under the domestic national security law. Chief Magistrate Victor So Wai-tak highlighted the significant increase in the maximum sentence for sedition under the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance compared to its predecessor, aiming to deter actions that pose a threat to the country’s safety…

Chu Kai-pong, 27, became the first person convicted under Hong Kong’s Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, a law enacted under Article 23 of the Basic Law. The unemployed Sha Tin resident admitted to wearing a black T-shirt with the slogan “Free Hong Kong, liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our times” on June 12. He also wore a yellow mask with “FDNOL” during the 2019 protests. Chu, remanded since June 14, pleaded guilty at West Kowloon Court to committing a seditious act in exchange for dropping other charges. This case marks a significant turning point in Hong Kong’s legal landscape and highlights…

Hong Kong appellate court has reduced the jail terms of four university student leaders who praised a knife attack on a police officer in 2021. Their sentences were deemed “manifestly excessive” and were reduced from two years to 15 months. The Court of Appeal criticized the trial judge for setting the starting point of sentence too high and found the defendants from the University of Hong Kong (HKU) were not as culpable as initially assessed. Although the court acknowledged the seriousness of inciting violence, the reduction in sentence reflects a reconsideration of the initial judgment. The full reasons for the…

A Hong Kong court has agreed to hear a judicial challenge by detained activist Chow Hang-tung objecting to a “plainly arbitrary” rule that dictates female prisoners must wear trousers during the daytime all year round at the expense of their health. The High Court on Tuesday handed down a written decision by Mr Justice Russell Coleman ruling that Chow Hang-tung’s application for judicial review had sufficient merits to warrant a substantive inquiry. Another female inmate was also granted permission to challenge the same prison policy but dropped the case before a full hearing. Chow argued that the Correctional Services Department…

A former opposition party leader has publicly renounced his political beliefs and expressed regret for his actions during Hong Kong’s first subversion trial. Alvin Yeung Ngok-kiu, a former barrister and legislator, admitted in a letter read in court that his defiance of the national security law was a mistake that embarrassed his family and colleagues. Yeung, who was part of the now-disbanded Civic Party, regretted his involvement in a 2020 unofficial election aimed at challenging the government. He acknowledged that his focus on opposing the government had led him astray from his initial goal of improving Hong Kong for its…