On Court of Appeal's judgment on Lai Chee-ying's fraud case
On October 25, 2022, the District Court convicted Lai Chee-ying of two counts of "fraud", and the then director of administration, Wong Wai-keung, of one count of "fraud". The two defendants appealed. Following the hearing in January 2025, the Court of Appeal today (February 26) allowed the defendants' appeal.
Lai Chee-ying, Photo source: Sing Tao Daily
Wong Wai-keung, Photo source: reference image
A spokesman for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government said, "The indisputable fact is that, Lai Chee-ying has exploited valuable public resources of the HKSAR for over 20 years. In its judgment on Lai Chee-ying's fraud case, the Court of Appeal clearly pointed out that Lai Chee-ying's private company, Dico Consultants Limited (Dico), occupied and used the relevant premises in the Tseung Kwan O Industrial Estate, and that Apple Daily Printing Limited (ADPL) breached the terms of the leasing instruments. Both the Court of Appeal's judgment and the trial judge's reasons for verdict revealed that the relevant terms of the lease clearly stipulated that, unless approved by the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTPC), the premises may only be used for publishing and printing business and must not be occupied by any third party. However, for over a period of as long as 20 years, without the knowledge of the HKSTPC, ADPL had allowed Dico to occupy and use the premises to deal with Lai Chee-ying's and his family's affairs."
The spokesman stressed, "Although the Court of Appeal considered that, in the factual context of this case, the breach in question did not reach the criminal conviction threshold for the offence of 'fraud', the objective fact remains that Lai Chee-ying has exploited public resources for private use."
The spokesman pointed out, "The courts in Hong Kong have always been exercising judicial power independently, and all judgments handed down by the courts are open and transparent. The District Court conducted the trial impartially. While the defendants lodged an appeal in accordance with the law, the Court of Appeal allowed the appeal with a detailed explanation on the reasons. Under the fair and impartial legal system of Hong Kong, both the trial court and the Court of Appeal handled the case openly and transparently.
"On the other hand, Lai Chee-ying is currently serving 20 years' imprisonment following his conviction and sentence on February 9, 2026, by the Court of First Instance of the High Court for three charges of offences endangering national security (namely one count of 'conspiracy to print, publish, sell, offer for sale, distribute, display and/or reproduce seditious publications' and two counts of 'conspiracy to commit collusion with a foreign country or with external elements to endanger national security').
Lai Chee-ying is currently serving 20 years' imprisonment, Photo source: reference image
"Although the appeal in this fraud case has been allowed, it does not alter the fact or outcome that Lai Chee-ying has to serve 20 years' imprisonment for his offences endangering national security.
"The Department of Justice acts strictly in accordance with the Prosecution Code. Prosecution was instituted as the Department considered that there was sufficient admissible evidence to support a reasonable prospect of conviction, and it was in the public interest to do so. The Department of Justice will study the Court of Appeal's judgment on this fraud case thoroughly in order to consider lodging an appeal."
First meeting of DoJ's Expert Committee on Professional Services for Going Global held
The Deputy Secretary for Justice, Dr Cheung Kwok-kwan, today (February 26) convened the first meeting of the Expert Committee on Professional Services for Going Global to hear views from expert members of the Expert Committee on promoting Hong Kong's legal and other professional services to support Chinese Mainland enterprises in expanding overseas.
Dr Cheung said that the Recommendations for Formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan give explicit support to Hong Kong in better integrating into and serving the overall national development. Enhancing industries with competitive edge is one of the initiatives of the 2026-27 Budget. On strengthening professional collaboration, it stated that the Hong Kong Professional Services GoGlobal Platform, initiated by theDepartment of Justice with the support of the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau (CEDB), is to facilitate co-ordination among the professional services sectors in supporting Mainland enterprises to go global with Hong Kong as their preferred platform. That the Expert Committee's first meeting was held on the day following the delivery of the Budget was most timely.
Noting that the Expert Committee comprises experts from the legal, financial, and accounting sectors from the Chinese Mainland and Hong Kong, as well as outstanding business and corporate representatives, Dr Cheung anticipated that they would offer insightful advice for the work of the GoGlobal Platform.
At the meeting, the Expert Committee focused on two major areas of work and conducted an in-depth discussion on:
(1) ways to enhance the integration of information related to Hong Kong's professional services to facilitate precise connections between Mainland enterprises and Hong Kong's professional services, such as publishing success stories in supporting Mainland enterprises expanding overseas, and compiling information on professional services providers that supports "going global" enterprises to facilitate their enquiries and matching; and
(2) ways to enhance the understanding of the specific needs of Mainland enterprises expanding overseas and to co-ordinate Hong Kong's professional services to efficiently meet such needs, such as deepening the understanding of the diverse needs for professional services among enterprises across various regions and industries by liaising with relevant Mainland ministries, local and overseas commercial and trade organisations, as well as representatives of enterprises; and providing a platform for exchanges and connections between Hong Kong's professional services sectors and enterprises with the potential or demand for going global.
Dr Cheung stated that connecting and matching Mainland enterprises with Hong Kong's professional services is a common goal of the CEDB's Task Force on Supporting Mainland Enterprises in Going Global (GoGlobal Task Force) and the GoGlobal Platform. The Task Force and the GoGlobal Platform are closely interlinked and complement each other. The GoGlobal Platform will serve as a hub that brings together Hong Kong's cross-sector professional services as the main force to support enterprises going global. It will promote and support the professional services sectors, empowering them to better respond to the needs for professional services of Mainland enterprises. As for the GoGlobal Task Force, it will directly engage with Mainland enterprises, serving as the pivotal point of contact for Mainland enterprises using Hong Kong as a launchpad to go global.
Dr Cheung thanked the Expert Committee members for their active participation and valuable comments at the meeting, and encouraged them to continue offering advice and suggestions to further enhance the brand of Hong Kong's professional services for achieving the goal of "Go Global, Choose Hong Kong".
The Deputy Secretary for Justice, Dr Cheung Kwok-kwan (eighth right), today (February 26) convened the first meeting of the Expert Committee on Professional Services for Going Global. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
The Deputy Secretary for Justice, Dr Cheung Kwok-kwan, today (February 26) convened the first meeting of the Expert Committee on Professional Services for Going Global. Photo shows Dr Cheung delivering his opening remarks at the meeting. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
The Deputy Secretary for Justice, Dr Cheung Kwok-kwan, today (February 26) convened the first meeting of the Expert Committee on Professional Services for Going Global. Photo shows Dr Cheung (back row, centre) with Expert Committee members before the meeting. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
