14 Apr 2025法庭線#6690
Terrorism case No. 2 | First defendant told court Telegram message about “focusing on making thermite bombs” was just “talking rubbish” to attract women
2020 年初，明愛醫院、羅湖港鐵車廂被發現有爆炸品，Telegram 頻道「九十二籤」事後承認責任。7 人被控《反恐條例》罪名，餘下 1 人被控以「企圖製造炸藥」罪。8 人不認罪，周一（14 日）於高院踏入第 87 天審訊。首被告何卓為續接受辯方主問，問及他於 2019 年 11 月 與 Telegram 用戶「Freedom Hai」的對話內容。
何稱與「Freedom Hai」為普通朋友，但指她「幾靚女又後生，咪撩吓佢傾計咁樣」。何曾發訊提及「今晚專心調鋁熱彈」，他解釋「當時聽過啲示威者講會整鋁熱彈，我唔識整嘅，同佢（Freedom Hai）扮我做緊呢啲嘢」，「吸引吓佢注意」，在辯方提問下，同意只是「吹水」。
訊息中何又提到「自己放棄晒所有嘢去抗爭」，他庭上解釋，「會話我投入咗好多時間資源，當然講得誇張咗少少、煽情咗少少」。案件周二（15 日）續。
In early 2020, explosives were found at Caritas Medical Centre and in an MTR train compartment at Lo Wu. The Telegram channel “Ninety-Two Divinations” subsequently claimed responsibility. Seven people were charged with offences under the Anti-Terrorism Ordinance, while one remaining defendant was charged with “attempting to manufacture explosives”. All eight pleaded not guilty, and the trial at the High Court entered its 87th day on Monday (14th). The first defendant, Ho Cheuk Wai, continued to be questioned by the defence about his conversations in November 2019 with a Telegram user named “Freedom Hai”.
Ho said he and “Freedom Hai” were ordinary friends, but that she was “quite pretty and young, so I just flirted with her and chatted with her”. Ho had sent a message mentioning, “Tonight I’ll focus on mixing thermite bombs.” He explained that he had heard demonstrators say they would make thermite bombs, that he did not know how to make them, and that he had pretended to “Freedom Hai” that he was doing such things “to attract her attention”. In response to questioning by the defence, he agreed that he was merely “talking rubbish”.
In the messages, Ho also mentioned “giving up everything to take part in the protest”. He explained in court that he meant he had invested a great deal of time and resources, but had “of course put it somewhat more exaggeratedly and somewhat more emotively”. The case continues on Tuesday (15th).
11 Apr 2025法庭線#6675
San Tin Technopole judicial review withdrawn; Tse Sai-kit says disappointed and had done its utmost, while Chan Ka-lam says she was also harassed
社工謝世傑入稟申請司法覆核，要求推翻環保署批准新田科技城環評報告的決定，原已排期今年 6 月審理。高院法官高浩文周五（11 日）批准謝世傑退出，另駁回前西貢區議員陳嘉琳申請加入或取代謝世傑，案件亦告撤銷。
二人一同發表回應，指對法庭決定感失望、不解。謝指，是次取代申請「實屬極無奈的決定」，已盡最大努力，陳嘉琳則稱就算案件中止，「無法改變新田科技城環評錯漏百出、程序不公的事實」。二人籲公眾不要氣餒，一同繼續監察新田科技城的發展。
謝亦確認，自提出司法覆核後，家人接連收到匿名信件滋擾。陳則表示在法庭聆訊後，她的家人和親友亦隨即收到匿名滋擾信件和電郵，在社交平台亦遭不實言論抹黑，她對該等行為予以譴責。
政府則對裁決表示歡迎。發展局表示，司法覆核已告一段落，為新田科技城發展消除不確定性，政府會繼續全力推展這個北部都會區的旗艦項目。
Social worker Tse Sai-kit filed for a judicial review seeking to overturn the Environmental Protection Department’s approval of the San Tin Technopole environmental impact assessment report. The case had originally been scheduled to be heard in June this year. On Friday (11th), High Court judge Ko Ho-man approved Tse Sai-kit’s withdrawal and rejected former Sai Kung District Councillor Chan Ka-lam’s application to join or replace Tse Sai-kit, bringing the case to an end.
The two issued a joint response, saying they were disappointed and puzzled by the court’s decision. Tse said the application to replace the claimant was “an extremely reluctant decision” and that they had done their utmost. Chan said that even if the case was discontinued, “it cannot change the fact that the San Tin Technopole environmental impact assessment was full of errors and omissions and that the procedure was unfair”. They urged the public not to lose heart and to continue monitoring the development of the San Tin Technopole together.
Tse also confirmed that, since the judicial review was filed, family members had repeatedly received anonymous letters of harassment. Chan said that after the court hearing, her family and relatives and friends immediately received anonymous harassing letters and emails, and that she was smeared with false statements on social media. She condemned such acts.
The Government welcomed the ruling. The Development Bureau said the judicial review had come to an end, removing uncertainty surrounding the development of the San Tin Technopole, and that the Government would continue to fully advance this flagship project of the Northern Metropolis.
11 Apr 2025法庭線#6676
RTHK’s “Headliner” Accused of Insulting Police and Breaching Code; Staff Union Wins Appeal and Awarded 75% of Costs
通訊事務管理局 2020 年裁定港台《頭條新聞》有集數辱警，記協與港台工會提司法覆核挑戰決定，2021 年獲判部分勝訴。通訊局、港台工會與記協各就敗訴部分提上訴。上訴庭去年 9 月一致駁回通訊局上訴，工會、記協則上訴得直，通訊局的警告獲撤銷。
上訴庭周五（11 日）就訟費評定頒下判詞，接納局方提出抗辯與公眾利益有關，而部分屬新議題，對局方日後如何履行職責、監管電視節目均有長遠影響，考慮後認為局方應向工會、記協一方支付 75% 訟費。
In 2020, the Communications Authority ruled that certain episodes of RTHK’s “Headliner” had insulted the police. The Hong Kong Journalists Association and the RTHK Staff Union sought a judicial review to challenge the decision and partly succeeded in 2021. The Communications Authority, the RTHK Staff Union and the Hong Kong Journalists Association each appealed the parts of the judgment they had lost. Last September, the Court of Appeal unanimously dismissed the Communications Authority’s appeal and allowed the appeals by the union and the Hong Kong Journalists Association, quashing the warning issued by the authority.
11 Apr 2025法庭線#6677
Second Terrorism Case | First defendant says he was told “something might happen in Tseung Kwan O”; arrested while seeking refuge at hotel
2020 年初，明愛醫院、羅湖港鐵車廂被發現有爆炸品，Telegram 頻道「九十二籤」事後承認責任。7 人被控《反恐條例》罪名，餘下 1 人被控以「企圖製造炸藥」罪。8 人不認罪，周五（11 日）於高院踏入第 86 天審訊。
首被告何卓為續作供，稱 2020 年 3 月 7 日晚上離開宏創方 503 室，打算留宿酒店、翌日往釣魚，因從其中學同學口中得知，「3 月 8 號將軍澳可能會有啲事發生」，並指「佢都勸我避一避開」，而他當晚前往酒店途中被捕。
法官追問打算不在 503 室留宿的原因，何稱「當時我自己已經懷疑喺我 503 室出入嘅人可能涉及爆炸品案」，並指「喺 503 室出入過嘅人都有可能」。審訊下周一續。
In early 2020, explosives were found at Caritas Medical Centre and in a Lo Wu MTR train compartment. The Telegram channel “九十二籤” subsequently claimed responsibility. Seven people were charged with offences under the Anti-Terrorism Ordinance, while one remaining person was charged with “attempting to manufacture explosives”. All eight pleaded not guilty, and the trial at the High Court entered its 86th day on Friday (11th).
The first defendant Ho Cheuk Wai continued to give evidence, saying that he left Unit 503 at Wang Cheong on the evening of 7 March 2020, intending to stay at a hotel and go fishing the next day. He said this was because he had learned from a secondary-school classmate that “something might happen in Tseung Kwan O on 8 March”, and that “he also advised me to avoid it”. He was arrested while on his way to the hotel that night.
When the judge asked why he had planned not to stay overnight in Unit 503, Ho said: “At the time, I already suspected that people going in and out of my Unit 503 might be involved in the explosives case,” adding that “anyone who had gone in and out of Unit 503 could possibly [be involved].” The trial will continue next Monday.
10 Apr 2025法庭線#6668
Second terrorism case | First defendant says he bought sulphur at someone’s request without asking its purpose, and did not know his residence had emitted smoke while he was out eating
2020 年初，明愛醫院、羅湖港鐵車廂被發現有爆炸品，Telegram 頻道「九十二籤」事後承認責任。7 人被控《反恐條例》罪名，餘下 1 人被控以「企圖製造炸藥」罪。8 人不認罪，周四（10 日）於高院踏入第 85 天審訊。
首被告何卓為被指購買硫磺作為炸藥原材料。何卓為庭上供稱，一名社運朋友「Rachel」請他幫忙購買硫磺，故協助她購買，他沒過問硫磺的用途。
同案被告涉於何卓為租用、自住的宏創方 503 室試用炸藥，單位冒出濃煙和閃光。何供稱，當時他出外探朋友和吃飯，不知道 503 室發生的事。審訊周五續。
In early 2020, explosives were found at Caritas Medical Centre and in an MTR carriage at Lo Wu. The Telegram channel “Ninety-Two Lots” subsequently claimed responsibility. Seven people were charged with offences under the United Nations (Anti-Terrorism Measures) Ordinance, while the remaining defendant was charged with attempting to manufacture explosives. All eight pleaded not guilty, and the trial at the High Court entered its 85th day on Thursday (10th).
The first defendant, Ho Cheuk Wai, was alleged to have bought sulphur as a raw material for explosives. Ho Cheuk Wai testified in court that a friend involved in social activism, “Rachel”, had asked him to help buy sulphur, so he assisted her, without asking what it was for.
A co-defendant was alleged to have tested explosives in Room 503 of Wang Cheong Building, which Ho Cheuk Wai rented and lived in. Thick smoke and flashes emerged from the unit. Ho testified that he had gone out to visit a friend and eat, and did not know what had happened in Room 503. The trial will resume on Friday.
9 Apr 2025法庭線#6666
31 August Wan Chai riot case retried; social worker Chan Hung-sau jailed 3 years 9 months after conviction, three who changed pleas jailed 2 years 5 months
社工陳虹秀等 4 人被控於2019 年 8 月 31 日在灣仔暴動，分別獲裁定表證不成立及罪名不成立，上訴庭發還重審。陳經審訊被裁定罪成，餘下兩男一女被告則認罪，周三（9 日）在區域法院被判 2 年 5 個月至 3 年 9 個月。
暫委法官鍾明新指，案發在灣仔主要幹道，歷時 2 小時，最少有 500 名示威者參與，具一定組織性。3 名被告帶備可直接參與暴動的裝備，陳虹秀則以叫喊方式鼓勵暴動，為示威者撐腰，指情節極為嚴重，認為 4 人罪責相若，均以判囚 5 年為量刑起點。
法官考慮被告 5 年間承受壓力，為各人減刑 10 個月，又因為有被告年輕、陳任社工多年的貢獻，再額外減刑。陳虹秀聞判平靜；陳母則雙眼通紅，由親友陪伴下離開。
Social worker Chan Hung-sau and three others were charged with rioting in Wan Chai on 31 August 2019. They were respectively found to have no case to answer and acquitted, and the Court of Appeal ordered a retrial. Chan was convicted after trial, while the remaining two men and one woman pleaded guilty. They were sentenced at the District Court on Wednesday (9th) to between 2 years 5 months and 3 years 9 months in prison.
Acting Judge Chung Ming-sun said the incident took place on a major road in Wan Chai and lasted two hours, with at least 500 protesters taking part, and involved a certain degree of organisation. Three of the defendants brought equipment that could be used directly to take part in the riot, while Chan encouraged the riot by shouting and lent support to the protesters. He said the circumstances were extremely serious, considered the four defendants to be similarly culpable, and adopted five years’ imprisonment as the starting point for sentencing each of them.
The judge took into account the pressure the defendants had endured over the five years and reduced each sentence by 10 months. Further reductions were granted on account of the youth of some defendants and Chan’s contributions over many years as a social worker. Chan remained calm when the sentence was handed down, while her mother, with reddened eyes, left accompanied by relatives and friends.
9 Apr 2025法庭線#6667
Terrorism Case 2 | First defendant says he was on the streets or fishing on days of two explosions; phone had been lent out and he sent no case-related Telegram messages
2020 年初，明愛醫院、羅湖港鐵車廂被發現有爆炸品，Telegram 頻道「九十二籤」事後承認責任。7人被控《反恐條例》罪名，餘下 1 人被控以「企圖製造炸藥」罪。8 人不認罪，周三（9 日）於高院踏入第 84 天審訊。
首被告何卓為繼續作供，他稱明愛醫院爆炸案發生當天，他在旺角與示威者談天，在街頭知悉事件。至於羅湖站爆炸案發生當天，他在粉嶺梧桐河釣魚，沒有參與。他事後懷疑朋友「Rachel」與案有關，問對方，但對方僅稱「你覺得係咪係囉」。
何被捕後，警方在其手機查出 Telegram 訊息，控方指他策劃多宗爆炸案。何供稱，該手機在案發時的大部分時段，都是借了給朋友使用，訊息不是由他發出。審訊周四續。
Explosives were found at Caritas Medical Centre and in an MTR carriage at Lo Wu in early 2020. The Telegram channel “九十二籤” subsequently claimed responsibility. Seven people were charged with offences under the Anti-Terrorism Ordinance, while one other person was charged with “attempting to manufacture explosives”. All eight pleaded not guilty, and the trial at the High Court entered its 84th day on Wednesday (9th).
The first defendant Ho Cheuk Wai continued giving evidence. He said that on the day of the Caritas Medical Centre explosion, he chatted with protesters in Mong Kok and learned about the incident on the street. On the day of the Lo Wu station explosion, he was fishing at the Wutong River in Fanling and was not involved. He later suspected that his friend “Rachel” was connected with the case and asked her about it, but she only replied, “You think it is, then it is.”
After Ho was arrested, the police found Telegram messages on his phone, and the prosecution alleged that he had planned multiple explosions. Ho testified that the phone had been lent to a friend for most of the time during the incidents, and that the messages had not been sent by him. The trial will resume on Thursday.
8 Apr 2025法庭線#6660
Anti-terrorism second case | Defence case opens as first defendant says he lent premises for petrol-bomb making and did not know second defendant bought chemicals
2020 年初，明愛醫院、羅湖港鐵車廂被發現有爆炸品，Telegram 頻道「九十二籤」事後承認責任。7人被控《反恐條例》罪名，餘下 1 人被控以「企圖製造炸藥」罪。8 人不認罪，周二（8 日）於高院踏入第 83 天審訊。
首被告何卓為出庭作供，他供稱在反修例運動爆發後，多次出席遊行勸喻年幼的示威者離開，曾爬入何文田的雨水渠，試圖營救被困在理大的示威者；何亦開始借出他在宏創方租用的 503 室，供示威者休息、存放防毒面具等裝備，他認為與製作炸藥無關。
何又供稱，他自 2019 年底將單位租借給示威者「Rachel」，對方表示欲製作一種混合發泡膠和電油的汽油彈，會產生極大的氣味；他在片段截圖指認出對方曾步出 503 室。何又稱，不知次被告購入化學品，亦不知兩被告將疑似炸藥帶入單位。審訊周三續。
Explosives were found at Caritas Medical Centre and in an MTR train compartment at Lo Wu in early 2020. The Telegram channel “92 Lots” later claimed responsibility. Seven people were charged with offences under the Anti-Terrorism Ordinance, while the remaining person was charged with “attempting to manufacture explosives”. All eight pleaded not guilty, and the trial at the High Court entered its 83rd day on Tuesday (8th).
The first defendant, Ho Cheuk Wai, testified that after the anti-extradition bill movement began, he repeatedly attended marches and urged young protesters to leave. He once climbed into a stormwater drain in Ho Man Tin in an attempt to rescue protesters trapped at the Polytechnic University. Ho also began lending Room 503, which he rented at Wang Cheong, to protesters for rest and to store gas masks and other equipment. He said he believed this was unrelated to the manufacture of explosives.
Ho further testified that from the end of 2019, he rented the unit to a protester named “Rachel”, who said she wanted to make a petrol bomb by mixing expanded polystyrene with petrol, which would produce a very strong smell. He identified her in a screenshot from a video as having walked out of Room 503. Ho also said he did not know that the second defendant had bought chemicals, or that the two defendants had brought suspected explosives into the unit. The trial continues on Wednesday.
8 Apr 2025法庭線#6663
More than 5½ years after 7.21, white-shirted man Zhirong Wang jailed for 7 years for rioting and other offences, matching Tang Wai-cham’s sentence
元朗 7.21 襲擊至今逾 5 年半，在首宗白衣人暴動案獲裁無罪的王志榮，被上訴庭發還原審重新考慮。區院法官葉佐文上周裁定他暴動、有意圖傷人罪成，令王成為第 13 名罪成的白衣人（見內文表）。王周二（8 日）在區院被判囚 7 年，與鄧懷琛一樣成為刑責最重的白衣人。
對於辯方求情稱，王「只係郁咗幾下手」，官稱，王作為白衣人大夥兒一員，無差別對市民作出威脅、挑釁、襲擊行為；並指其角色與同案被告林觀良、林啟明不遑多讓，兩罪均以判囚 7 年為量刑起點，同期執行，亦沒有減刑因素。
翻查判詞，官指林觀良、林啟明涉在元朗站大堂襲擊閘內人，並連同多名白衣人追擊到月台，「延續在大堂般的襲擊，輪流衝入車廂揮棍或擲物來襲擊被困在車廂的乘客。這是喪失理智的另一次無差別施襲」。
More than five and a half years after the Yuen Long 7.21 attack, Zhirong Wang, who was acquitted in the first white-shirted rioters case, was remitted by the Court of Appeal for the trial court to reconsider. District Court judge Eddie Chor Man Yip ruled last week that he was guilty of rioting and wounding with intent, making Wong the 13th white-shirted man to be convicted (see table in the main text). Wong was sentenced to seven years in prison at the District Court on Tuesday (8th), making him, together with Tang Wai-cham, one of the white-shirted men to receive the heaviest sentence.
In mitigation, the defence said Wong had “only moved his hands a few times”. The judge said that, as a member of the group of white-shirted men, Wong had made indiscriminate threats, provocations and attacks against members of the public. The judge also said his role was no less serious than those of co-defendants Lam Koon-leung and Lam Kai-ming. Seven years’ imprisonment was set as the starting point for each of the two offences, to be served concurrently, and there were no factors warranting a reduction in sentence.
The judgment said Lam Koon-leung and Lam Kai-ming were involved in attacking people inside the barriers in the concourse of Yuen Long Station, and, together with other white-shirted men, pursued them to the platform, “continuing the attack in the concourse by taking turns to rush into the train carriages, swinging poles or throwing objects at passengers trapped inside. This was another indiscriminate attack in which all reason had been lost.”
7 Apr 2025法庭線#6656
Tai Ka-ping and Twin Brother Acquitted of Criminal Damage to Heytea and Other Offences; DOJ Wins Appeal and Case Remitted for Reconsideration
2020 年 5 月 13 日，有網民發起於沙田新城市廣場「和你 Sing」，7 名少年涉破壞內地連鎖飲品店「喜茶」分店而被控。其中浸大學生會前外務副幹事長戴嘉平與其攣生兄長戴嘉正，被裁定刑毀及拒捕罪名不成立，律政司不服無罪裁決，以案件呈述方式提上訴。高院法官陳仲衡周一（7 日）裁定律政司上訴得直，發還原審裁判官重新考慮。
判詞指出，整體考慮警員的證供，他一直強調是憑着多項特徵和證據，辨認涉案的人是戴嘉正及戴嘉平。考慮閉路電視片段中被指為兩人的人士，包括衣著特徵、二人的行為動作和路徑、WhatsApp 訊息等，官同意戴嘉正是負責為搗毀「喜茶」的黑衣人把風，戴嘉平則是搗毀「喜茶」的黑衣人之一，是多項證據累積效應下的唯一合理結論。
On 13 May 2020, online users called for a “Sing with You” event at New Town Plaza in Sha Tin. Seven youths were charged with allegedly damaging a branch of the mainland beverage chain Heytea. Tai Ka-ping, a former deputy secretary-general for external affairs of the Hong Kong Baptist University Students’ Union, and his twin brother, Tai Ka-ching, were acquitted of criminal damage and resisting arrest. The Department of Justice, dissatisfied with the acquittals, appealed by way of case stated. On Monday (7th), High Court judge Chan Chung-hang allowed the Department of Justice’s appeal and remitted the case to the original trial magistrate for reconsideration.
The judgment said that, considering the police officer’s evidence as a whole, he had consistently emphasised that he identified the people involved as Tai Ka-ching and Tai Ka-ping based on multiple characteristics and pieces of evidence. Having considered the people identified in the CCTV footage as the two men, including their clothing features, actions and movements, routes, and WhatsApp messages, the judge agreed that Tai Ka-ching acted as a lookout for the black-clad person who smashed Heytea, while Tai Ka-ping was one of the black-clad people who smashed the shop. This was the only reasonable conclusion arising from the cumulative effect of the various pieces of evidence.
Translations are supplied by the source workbook. Consult the original reporting for context.
