Fatal traffic accident in Kwun Tong
Police are investigating a fatal traffic accident happened in Kwun Tong today (February 9), in which a woman died.
Photo by Bastille Post
At about 5.49am, a medium goods vehicle driven by a 60-year-old man was travelling along Kwun Tong Road towards Kwun Tong. When approaching Tsui Ping Road, it reportedly knocked down a 65-year-old woman who was crossing the road.
Sustaining serious head and limbs injuries, the woman was rushed to United Christian Hospital in unconscious state and was certified dead at 6.20am.
Photo by Bastille Post
The driver was arrested for dangerous driving causing death and is being detained for enquiries.
Investigation by the Special Investigation Team of Traffic, Kowloon East is under way.
Anyone who witnessed the accident or has any information to offer is urged to contact the investigating officers on 3661 0259.
Photo by Bastille Post
Justice upheld in Court of First Instance's sentence regarding Lai Chee-ying case
The Court of First Instance of the High Court today (February 9) handed down sentences for Lai Chee-ying and the other eight defendants, as well as three companies relating to Apple Daily in respect of their convictions of a total of three charges of offences endangering national security. The total sentence for Lai Chee-ying was imprisonment for 20 years. As for the other eight defendants, their imprisonment terms ranged from six years and three months to 10 years. The three companies relating to Apple Daily were each sentenced to a fine of HK$3,004,500.
Lai Chee-ying, Photo source: Sing Tao Daily
The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, said, "Lai Chee-ying has committed numerous heinous crimes, and his evil deeds were beyond measure. The severe sentence of 20 years' imprisonment imposed on him manifests that the rule of law is upheld and justice is done, and also brings great relief to all. Lai Chee-ying had long used Apple Daily to poison the minds of our citizens, by inciting hatred, distorting facts, deliberately stirring up social antagonism and glorifying violence. He had openly begged for external forces to impose sanctions against China and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), sacrificing the well-being of the people of China and the HKSAR. He betrayed our country and harmed Hong Kong, causing damage to the interests of our country and the HKSAR. His conviction is supported by overwhelming evidence, and he for sure deserves his punishment after all the harm he has done.
"Lai Chee-ying's malicious acts endangering national security have harmed the interests of our country and the HKSAR, as well as the interests of our citizens. The court, after 156 days of fair and impartial public hearings and having considered the irrefutable evidence of up to 2 220 exhibits, over 80 000 pages of documents and statements of evidence from 14 prosecution witnesses, concluded that Lai Chee-ying was the mastermind behind those anti-China and destabilising activities. His acts are despicable and shameless.
"The conviction of the heinous crimes committed by Lai Chee-ying was the first convicted case of the offence of 'collusion with a foreign country or with external elements to endanger national security' since the promulgation and implementation of the Hong Kong National Security Law (HKNSL). This marks an important milestone in the HKSAR's efforts to safeguard national security, manifesting the role of the HKNSL as a key stabilising force. This case also admonishes that villains who endanger national security could never escape the sanctions of the law and would surely be severely punished in accordance with the law. The HKSAR will continue to steadfastly safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests.
"The court has already handed down severe sentences for Lai Chee-ying and the other defendants in accordance with the law, manifesting that the rule of law is upheld and justice is done. That said, Hong Kong as a whole has already paid a heavy price. Poisoned by Lai Chee-ying, and Apple Daily under his control, some of our citizens, especially young people, have been misled to break the law and become radical and violent. During the period of 'blackclad violence', they committed acts of vandalism on public facilities. Not only did they storm the Legislative Council and government buildings, throw petrol bombs, and commit arson, but some even set people on fire. Furthermore, some young people smuggled real guns, made bombs, and plotted terrorist activities. It was fortunate that the Police had taken prompt enforcement actions to crack down on these plots, thus preventing mass casualties. However, many young people who had been incited to commit those crimes eventually ended up in prison. In fact, as of the end of last year, more than 2 400 individuals have been held accountable for unlawful acts during the period of 'black-clad violence'. It is plain to see that the evil deeds committed by Lai Chee-ying and his syndicate were beyond measure."
The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, Photo source: reference image
A spokesman for the HKSAR Government said, "The court pointed out clearly in its verdict handed down earlier that Lai Chee-ying was the mastermind of the case. He had manipulated and exploited Apple Daily to poison society, and repeatedly colluded with external forces to beg for sanctions and hostile activities against the Central Authorities and the HKSAR Government. Lai Chee-ying's malicious plot spanned across both the periods before and after the promulgation of the HKNSL. His intent was to collude with external forces to harm the interests of China and the HKSAR, as well as those of our citizens. He also shamelessly acted as a pawn of external forces to endanger national security.
"After hearing the submissions of the defendants on sentencing in the hearings of January 12 and 13, the court provided a detailed account of its considerations in every respect in its reasons for the sentence handed down today. The court held that the offence of 'conspiracy to print, publish, sell, offer for sale, distribute, display and/or reproduce seditious publications' in this case fell within the most serious category for its type, and the two offences of 'conspiracy to commit collusion with a foreign country or with external elements to endanger national security' fell within the category of offences of 'a grave nature'.
"As the court pointed out in the reasons for the sentence, these offences took place at a time when Hong Kong had hardly recovered from the social turmoil caused by the 'Anti-Extradition Law Amendment Bill Movement'. The conspiracies were meticulously planned, involved multiple parties, and were clearly premeditated. The conspiracies involved the use of online platforms and a large number of seditious articles, targeting both local and overseas audiences, and some criminal activities were even conducted outside the HKSAR. The conspiracies were persistent ones, resulting in many acts rather than a single incident. After the enactment of the HKNSL, even though Lai Chee-ying's requests for foreign countries to impose sanctions or blockades, or engage in other hostile activities became more implicit and subtle, the change was only in form rather than in substance, with all the defendants continuing with their agreement for some time until after they were arrested by the Police. In fact, the sanctions imposed by foreign countries against the HKSAR, as well as against officials of China and the HKSAR have not been removed even up to today. It is wholly unrealistic to say that Lai Chee-ying and others' activities were not a contributing cause. The court unequivocally identified Lai Chee-ying as the mastermind and the driving force behind these conspiracies, which constituted an aggravating factor and therefore enhanced the starting point for his sentence.
"The Government would forfeit the offence-related property of Lai Chee-ying in accordance with the law. The Secretary for Security has earlier frozen the offence-related property of Lai Chee-ying and of the companies relating to Apple Daily in accordance with the Implementation Rules for Article 43 of the HKNSL. Article 31 of the HKNSL stipulates that the operation of a company or an organisation shall be suspended or its licence or business permit shall be revoked if it has been punished for committing an offence under the HKNSL. The HKSAR Government will initiate the procedures pursuant to section 360C of the Companies (Winding Up and Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance (Cap 32) so as to have the three companies relating to Apple Daily struck off the Companies Register to safeguard national security."
The spokesman said, "Since the HKSAR Government has taken action in accordance with the law to combat the illegal acts of Lai Chee-ying endangering national security, many Western countries, overseas anti-China media, organisations and politicians have been continuously smearing the efforts of the HKSAR in safeguarding national security. These countries themselves frequently deploy the tactics of overstretching the concept of national security as a pretext to suppress their own opponents. Moreover, they have been harbouring their agents by constantly slandering Hong Kong, hypocritically cloaking Lai Chee-ying in the false guise of a 'media mogul', and even fabricating health problems of Lai Chee-ying during the trial.
"These schemes all crumbled during the fair and impartial public hearings in court. The 855-page verdict handed down by the court provided irrefutable proof and demonstrated the court's fair judgment based strictly on the law and evidence."
The 855-page verdict handed down by the court provided irrefutable proof and demonstrated the court's fair judgment based strictly on the law and evidence. Photo source: reference image
The spokesman further said, "The Correctional Services Department (CSD) has been ensuring that the custodial environment for persons-in-custody (PICs) is safe, humane, appropriate and healthy in accordance with the law. These include adequate lighting and good ventilation, as well as appropriate and timely medical support. During the plea in mitigation in court on January 13 this year, the senior counsel representing Lai Chee-ying confirmed repeatedly that Lai Chee-ying had made no complaints about the treatment he received while in custody. The court also confirmed in its reasons for sentence that the CSD has been providing adequate medical attention for Lai Chee-ying.
"As regards the arrangement of removing Lai Chee-ying from association with other PICs, it has long been made based on his own request by the CSD after considering all relevant factors in accordance with the law. Lai Chee-ying's entitlements in prison, including visitation, communication, welfare and religious services, as well as outdoor exercise arrangements, have not been deprived of on account of his personal status or his removal from association with other PICs.
"The HKSAR Government has completed the local legislation on Article 23 of the Basic Law by enacting the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance (SNSO). The HKNSL and the SNSO are compatible with and complementary to each other, jointly establishing the legal system for safeguarding national security. The HKSAR will continue to resolutely discharge its duty of safeguarding national security, while protecting the legitimate rights and interests of Hong Kong citizens, fulfilling its inherent responsibility, and making every effort to prevent, suppress and punish acts and activities that endanger national security."
The Central Government Offices, Photo source: reference image
