24 May 2024法庭線#3571
47-Year-Old Man Jailed Four Months for Criminal Damage over Alleged Misuse of Organ Donation System; Magistrate Says Public Interest Seriously Harmed
2023 年 5 月，取消器官捐贈登記數字急增。政府指有少數人「歪曲器官捐贈的利他奉獻精神」，甚至呼籲取消登記。兩男被控刑事損壞罪，一人認罪判囚 8 周，另一名 47 歲設計師則經審訊後被裁定兩罪成，周五（24 日）在東區裁判法院被判囚 4 個月。
裁判官崔美霞指，被告以他人及虛假的資料登記器官捐贈名冊，「不單導致系統的速度減慢，而是損壞器官捐贈名冊，嚴重損害公眾利益」，又強調名冊是器官捐贈制度的重要一環，不容被告因好奇及無根據、無意義的測試而作出損壞。
辯方求情指，被告平日樂於助人，定期捐血和捐款，本身亦登記了器官和骨髓捐贈。
In May 2023, the number of cancellations of organ donation registrations surged. The Government said a small number of people had “distorted the altruistic spirit of organ donation” and even called for registrations to be cancelled. Two men were charged with criminal damage. One pleaded guilty and was sentenced to eight weeks’ imprisonment, while the other, a 47-year-old designer, was convicted on two counts after trial and sentenced to four months’ imprisonment at Eastern Magistrates’ Court on Friday (24th). Magistrate Stephanie May Har Tsui said the defendant had registered on the organ donation register using other people’s and false information, which “not only slowed down the system, but damaged the organ donation register and seriously harmed the public interest”. The magistrate also stressed that the register was an important part of the organ donation system and must not be damaged by the defendant through curiosity or baseless and meaningless tests. In mitigation, the defence said the defendant was usually willing to help others, regularly donated blood and money, and had himself registered to donate organs and bone marrow.
24 May 2024法庭線#3572
“Cross-Border Debt Recovery” Triggers UK Hong Kong-Related Intelligence Case; Company Seeks Repayment from Woman Who Moved to UK as Asset Injunction Extended
英國倫敦警察廳上周一（13 日）公布，香港駐倫敦經濟貿易辦事處行政經理袁松彪等 3 人，涉嫌協助境外情報機關及進行境外干預行為，被控英國《國安法》，3 人獲准保釋候訊。日前身亡的被告 Matthew Trickett，被指參與一宗跨境追債案，強行進入一名移英香港女子住所，該女子涉從僱主銀行戶口盜去逾 1.64 億港元。
僱主早前入稟本港高等法院，要求頒發臨時禁制令，命令移英女子與另外 3 人交還被盜資產，相關民事訴訟周五（24 日）在高院處理。所有被告缺席聆訊，法官黄國瑛批准僱主一方要求，下令臨時禁制令繼續有效。
英國倫敦警察廳上周一（13 日）公布，香港駐倫敦經濟貿易辦事處行政經理袁松彪等 3 人，涉嫌協助境外情報機關及進行境外干預行為，被控英國《國安法》，3 人獲准保釋候訊。日前身亡的被告 Matthew Trickett，被指參與一宗跨境追債案，強行進入一名移英香港女子住所，該女子涉從僱主銀行戶口盜去逾 1.64 億港元。
僱主早前入稟本港高等法院，要求頒發臨時禁制令，命令移英女子與另外 3 人交還被盜資產，相關民事訴訟周五（24 日）在高院處理。所有被告缺席聆訊，法官黄國瑛批准僱主一方要求，下令臨時禁制令繼續有效。
The London Metropolitan Police announced last Monday (13th) that three people, including Yuan Songbiao, an administrative manager at the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in London, had allegedly assisted an overseas intelligence service and engaged in overseas interference. They were charged under the UK National Security Act and granted bail pending further proceedings. Matthew Trickett, one of the defendants who died several days ago, was alleged to have taken part in a cross-border debt recovery case and forcibly entered the home of a Hong Kong woman who had moved to the UK. The woman was alleged to have stolen more than HK$164 million from her employer’s bank account.
The employer earlier applied to the High Court of Hong Kong for an interim injunction ordering the woman and three other people to return the stolen assets. The civil proceedings were heard at the High Court on Friday (24th). None of the defendants attended the hearing. Judge Wong Kwok-ying approved the employer’s application and ordered that the interim injunction remain in force.
24 May 2024法庭線#3573
Trade Office Staff Member Charged with Assisting Intelligence Service; Trial Set for February; Prosecution of One Defendant Terminated After Death
倫敦警察廳上周一（13 日）公布，香港駐倫敦經貿辦職員袁松彪等 3 名男子，涉嫌協助境外情報機關及進行境外干預行為，違反當地去年通過《國家安全法案》，其中一名被告 Matthew Trickett 本周初被發現倒斃於其家附近公園，死因未明。
案件本港時間周五（24日）下午在倫敦中央刑事法庭（Central Criminal Court）再提訊。由於 Matthew Trickett 離世，法庭終止對他的起訴。
案件訂於明年 2 月 10 日，於京斯頓皇家法院（Kingston Crown Court） 正式開審，並將於今年 10 月 25 日在中央刑事法庭再次提訊。被告袁松彪、Chi Leung （Peter）Wai 獲准繼續保釋。
The Metropolitan Police announced last Monday (13th) that three men, including Yuen Chung-piu, a staff member of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in London, had allegedly assisted a foreign intelligence service and carried out foreign interference activities, in breach of the National Security Act passed locally last year. One of the defendants, Matthew Trickett, was found dead in a park near his home earlier this week. The cause of death is unknown.
The case was heard again at the Central Criminal Court in London on Friday afternoon Hong Kong time (24th). As Matthew Trickett had died, the court terminated the prosecution against him.
The case is scheduled to go to trial at Kingston Crown Court on 10 February next year, and will be heard again at the Central Criminal Court on 25 October this year. The defendants Yuen Chung-piu and Chi Leung (Peter) Wai were allowed to remain on bail.
22 May 2024HK01#3564
Matthew Trickett provided security at Christine Choi’s January UK events, appeared alongside HKETO’s Yuen Chung-piu
涉香港駐倫敦經貿辦職員的英國《國安法》案件，其中一名被告、退役英軍Matthew Trickett周日（19日）被發現陳屍於公園，死因未明。
Matthew Trickett報稱任職保安顧問。網上圖片顯示，教育局局長蔡若蓮今年1月訪英出席活動時，Matthew Trickett及同案被告、駐倫敦經貿辦行政經理袁松彪曾在部份場合同場出現，當中Trickett 看似擔任現場保安。
Matthew Trickett, a retired British soldier and one of the defendants in the UK National Security Act case involving a staff member of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in London, was found dead in a park on Sunday (19th). The cause of death is unknown.
Matthew Trickett was reported to work as a security consultant. Online images show that when Secretary for Education Christine Choi visited the UK to attend events in January this year, Trickett and fellow defendant Yuen Chung-piu, the administrative manager of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in London, appeared at some of the same events. Trickett appeared to be providing on-site security.
17 May 2024集誌社#3544
British Spy Case Follow-up | HK$100m Cross-Border Debt Collection Triggers Suspected Espionage Case; Creditor Is Mainland Investment Company
英國政府日前（13日）以《國家安全法》起訴三名男子，其中一人為香港駐倫敦經貿辦行政經理袁松彪。根據案情透露，「協助海外情報機構」罪涉及三人被指監控遭懸紅通緝的社運人士羅冠聰、蒙兆達、劉祖廸等人；「境外干預罪」則指被告涉強行闖入一英國住址，背後原來涉及一宗逾億港元的「跨境追債」，行動導致三人被捕。
懷疑諜案由一宗追債行動所「引爆」，債主是誰？《集誌社》綜合控方案情、香港和內地公司註冊資料，追查到追債背後人物，疑為 Tina Zou 鄒田甜（又名田甜、田靜），持香港身分證，聲稱為澳洲跨國投資集團 TWT Property Group 創辦人，其母王玉珠在內地持有多間投資公司。記者到訪其在港註冊公司地址查詢，辦公室座落灣仔乙級商廈、無人應門，另一慈善基金會註冊地址則為秘書公司。
The British Government charged three men under the National Security Act on the 13th, including Yuen Chung-piu, an administrative manager at the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in London. According to details of the case, the charge of assisting an overseas intelligence agency concerns allegations that the three men monitored wanted social activists including Nathan Law, Mok Siu-tat and Lau Cho-dik. The foreign interference offence alleges that the defendants forcibly broke into a UK address; the incident was reportedly linked to a cross-border debt collection involving more than HK$100 million and led to the arrest of the three men.
The suspected espionage case was triggered by a debt collection operation. Who was the creditor? The Collective reviewed the prosecution's case and company registration records in Hong Kong and the mainland, tracing the person believed to be behind the debt collection to Tina Zou (also known as Tin-tin and Tin Ching). She holds a Hong Kong identity card and claims to be the founder of the Australian multinational investment group TWT Property Group. Her mother, Wong Yuk-chu, owns several investment companies in the mainland. When reporters visited the registered address of her Hong Kong company to make enquiries, the office was located in a Grade B commercial building in Wan Chai and no one answered the door. The registered address of another charitable foundation was a company secretarial firm.
17 May 2024法庭線#3546
First terrorism case｜Victor Chun Keung Wong said in videotaped interview that accomplice had over $1 million in funds, so he played along by claiming he wanted guns to “placate and deceive him first”
《反恐條例》首案，7 人不認罪，周五（17 日）在高等法院踏入第 18 天審訊。認罪被告、自稱「屠龍小隊」隊長黃振強續接受盤問。
庭上播放黃被捕後的錄影會面，黃在片中稱毋須律師陪同，並向警方提供手機密碼，又提到知悉同謀者吳智鴻有過百萬資金，所以投其所好訛稱想用槍、「氹住、呃住佢先」，以獲取資金，強調計劃一直由吳主導，自己不涉製作炸彈等。
辯方另引述投訴警察課報告，指黃投訴遭警武力對待和威嚇時，有警員向他稱「你信唔信 8.31 有死人 … 掟埋你 … 可以送你返大陸」。黃聞言輕聲啜泣，同意曾遭武力對待，並指其中一名涉事警員，有份為他錄取錄影會面。
In the first case under the Anti-terrorism Ordinance, seven defendants pleaded not guilty. The trial entered its 18th day at the High Court on Friday (17th), with the defendant who pleaded guilty, Victor Chun Keung Wong, continuing to be cross-examined. The court played a videotaped interview conducted after Wong’s arrest. Wong said in the recording that he did not need a lawyer present and provided police with his phone password. He also said he knew that his accomplice, Ng Chi-hung, had funds exceeding one million, so he falsely claimed that he wanted to use guns in order to play to Ng’s interests and “placate and deceive him first” to obtain funding. He stressed that the plan had always been led by Ng, and that he was not involved in making bombs or other such activities. The defence also cited a Complaints Against Police Office report, saying that when Wong complained of being subjected to police violence and threats, an officer told him: “Do you believe that there will be deaths on 8.31 … throw you in too … we can send you back to the mainland.” Wong softly sobbed after hearing this, agreed that he had been subjected to violence, and said that one of the officers involved had also taken his videotaped interview.
15 May 2024獨媒#3537
‘Glory to Hong Kong’ injunction: YouTube blocks access in Hong Kong to 32 videos
上周（5月8日），上訴庭裁定律政司就要求頒令禁止傳播反修例歌曲《願榮光歸香港》上訴得直，禁止市民具意圖煽動分裂國家和侮辱國歌而散播歌曲。YouTube 向《路透社》表示，將禁止從香港地區瀏覽禁制令提及的32條涉不同版本《願榮光歸香港》的影片。
列於律政司入稟狀、32條在 YouTube 的不同版本《願榮光》，部分的影片名稱列明「香港國歌」，亦包括韓文、英文、日文、德文、荷蘭文、手語、純樂器、中樂合奏版本。禁制例子包括《願榮光》的二次創作，例如《願榮光歸香港X肥媽有話兒》大戲版；以及何韻詩在中環一次集會演唱的版本。
Last week (May 8), the Court of Appeal allowed the Department of Justice’s appeal against the refusal to grant an injunction prohibiting the dissemination of the anti-extradition bill song “Glory to Hong Kong”. The injunction prohibits people from disseminating the song with the intention of inciting secession or insulting the national anthem. YouTube told Reuters that it would block access from Hong Kong to the 32 videos involving different versions of “Glory to Hong Kong” mentioned in the injunction.
14 May 2024獨媒#3527
UK charges Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office manager over alleged direction of surveillance of pro-democracy figures in UK; China expresses strong dissatisfaction, calls charges fabricated
中國駐英大使館及外交部駐港公署批評昨日發聲明，反指英方「羅織罪名」，對港府進行「無中生有的污衊抹黑」，對此表示強烈不滿和堅決反對。公署又稱英方濫用國安名義，「無視基本人權保障，任意逮捕羈押」，並批評是「政治操弄、干預香港事務」，以及「包庇勾連反中亂港分子」。公署要求英方停止「打著國安旗號炮製案件」，並警告「立即懸崖勒馬、糾正錯誤」，停止干預香港事務和中國內政，否則會遭中方「堅決有力反擊」。
港府聲明無用「戰狼」語調
港府在接近晚上11時發出的聲明，沒有採用如公署的強烈字眼，表示已要求英國政府提供聲稱事件的相關資料詳情，正等待回覆。又指嚴正要求英方公正處理事件，切實保障聲稱涉事的經貿辦行政經理的合法權益，並必須確保經貿辦的正常工作不受影響。全篇聲明未有表達任何不滿或反對。
The Chinese Embassy in the UK and the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Hong Kong criticised the UK in statements issued yesterday, accusing it of “fabricating charges” and making “baseless smears and vilification” of the Hong Kong Government. They expressed strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition. The commissioner’s office also said the UK had abused the name of national security, “disregarded basic human rights protections and arbitrarily arrested and detained” people, and criticised the move as “political manipulation and interference in Hong Kong affairs”, as well as “sheltering and colluding with anti-China and anti-Hong Kong elements”. It demanded that the UK stop “fabricating cases under the banner of national security” and warned it to “immediately pull back from the brink and correct its mistakes”, cease interfering in Hong Kong affairs and China’s internal affairs, or face “firm and forceful countermeasures” from China.
Hong Kong Government statement did not use a “wolf warrior” tone
In a statement issued at around 11pm, the Hong Kong Government did not use the strong wording adopted by the commissioner’s office. It said it had asked the British Government to provide details of the information relating to the alleged incident and was awaiting a response. It also said it had made a serious demand that the UK handle the incident fairly, effectively safeguard the lawful rights and interests of the administrative manager of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office allegedly involved, and ensure that the office’s normal work was not affected. The statement expressed no dissatisfaction or opposition.
14 May 2024獨媒#3528
Former Master’s Classmate of Defendant, John Lee: “My Impression of This Person Is This Photograph”
英國倫敦警察廳昨日（13日）表示，已落案起訴三名男子違反當地的《國家安全法》，指他們涉嫌協助香港情報機構，以及觸犯外國干涉罪，其中63歲男子袁松彪為退休警司，現為香港駐倫敦經貿辦行政經理。政府昨延至晚上10時許才發出聲明，稱已要求英國政府提供事件的相關資料詳情。行政長官李家超今日被記者問及時稱，指中國駐英國大使館已發出聲明，並表示強烈反對及提出嚴正交涉，特區政府亦已要求駐港英國總領事館提供事件詳情。
The Metropolitan Police in London said yesterday (13th) that it had charged three men under the UK’s National Security Act, alleging that they had assisted a Hong Kong intelligence agency and committed a foreign interference offence. The 63-year-old Yuen Chung-piu, a retired superintendent, is currently an administrative manager at the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in London. The Hong Kong Government issued a statement only after 10pm yesterday, saying it had asked the UK Government to provide details of the incident. Asked by reporters today, Chief Executive John Lee said the Chinese Embassy in the UK had issued a statement expressing strong opposition and making solemn representations, and that the HKSAR Government had also asked the British Consulate-General in Hong Kong to provide details of the incident.
14 May 2024集誌社#3529
UK Spy Case | HKETO Account Reportedly Paid Nearly HK$1 Million, Including Surveillance of Nathan Law and Others
英國政府昨（13日）以《國家安全法》「協助海外情報機構」及「境外干預罪」起訴三名男子，其中一人為香港駐倫敦經貿辦行政經理袁松彪。據了解，案情涉及經貿辦直接付款約 9.55 萬鎊（ 約 93 萬港元），用途包括監控遭香港國安警懸紅百萬元通緝的社運人士羅冠聰、蒙兆達、劉祖廸等人。
特首李家超今（ 14日）早出席行政會議前，被問及經貿辦有否向其中兩被捕人過數等問題時，他表示，任何對特區政府無理指控，都不能接受。被問及袁松彪是否他同學？他回應說：「我對呢一個人嘅印象，就係呢一張照片」。
The British government yesterday (13th) charged three men under the National Security Act with assisting a foreign intelligence service and the offence of foreign interference. One of them is Yuen Chung-piu, an administrative manager at the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in London. It is understood that the case involved direct payments of about £95,500 (approximately HK$930,000) by the office, including for the surveillance of activists such as Nathan Law, Mung Siu-tat and Lau Cho-dik, who are wanted by Hong Kong national security police with a HK$1 million bounty on each of them.
Before attending an Executive Council meeting this morning (14th), Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu was asked whether the Economic and Trade Office had transferred money to two of those arrested. He said that any unfounded accusations against the HKSAR Government were unacceptable. Asked whether Yuen Chung-piu had been his classmate, he replied: “My impression of this person is just this photo.”
Translations are supplied by the source workbook. Consult the original reporting for context.
