TNAG-1363-FCO40-1809-Hong-Kong-Hansard-reports-and-minutes-of-the-meetings-of-the-1985 — Page 10

Supplementary to question No. 4

in LegCo Meeting on 13.11.85

Dr. Ho Kam-fai:- Sir, what is the average level of penalty meted out

to the convicted arson offenders? Is the penalty sufficient to deter

this criminal activity?

The Attorney General:- Sir, the courts hand down sentences at levels

commensurate with the circumstances of individual cases. The most

serious cases are prosecuted in the High Court and sentences in

High Court cases over the last three years up to October 1985 ranged

from one to 12 years' imprisonment. So far as the setting of penalty

is concerned, the maximum penalty for the offence of arson under the

Crimes Ordinance is imprisonment for life. This maximum penalty is

provided of course to cater for the very worst case and as such Members

may think it provides an adequate deterrance.

Mrs. Selina Chow:- Sir, of the 588 cases mentioned in paragraph ore

how many prosecution have been brought by the police and how many of them

have been successful?

The Attorney General:- Sir, I cannot produce those particular figures

at this moment and I would have to undertake to write to my honourable

friend with those details.