HKSAR V. F.S.L.

[2026] HKCFA 13 Court of Final Appeal 14 April 2026 • FACC5/2025 • 35 min read

17 cases cited (0 HK, 17 foreign)

Outcome

Appeal allowed

I would accordingly allow the appeal and answer the certified question in the negative.

Source: [2026] HKCFA 13, Court of Final Appeal, decided 14 April 2026. Read directly from the judgment.

Judges (5)

Cheung Coram Fok Coram Lam Coram Lord Hoffmann Coram Ribeiro Coram

Counsel (6)

Department of Justice Firm Keith Lam Lau & Chan Firm Gabriel Ng Counsel Appellant Human Lam Counsel Appellant Priscilia Lam Counsel Respondent Sean O’Reilly Counsel Respondent

Parties (2)

HKSAR Appellant F.S.L Respondent

Case Significance

HKSAR v. F.S.L. [2026] HKCFA 13 concerns a certified question of law before the Court of Final Appeal, following the Court of Appeal's judgment in HKSAR v. F.S.L. [2025] HKCA 598 and the Court of Final Appeal's own earlier ruling in HKSAR v. F.S.L. [2025] HKCFA 24. The Court of Final Appeal held: 'I would accordingly allow the appeal and answer the certified question in the negative.' The judgment draws on prior Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal Reports authorities including (2015) 18 HKCFAR 292, (1999) 2 HKCFAR 539, (2018) 21 HKCFAR 167, (2016) 19 HKCFAR 279, (2010) 13 HKCFAR 142, (2013) 16 HKCFAR 195 and (2013) 16 HKCFAR 413, together with [1997] HKLRD 428 and comparative citations to [2013] EWCA Crim 2574 and [1951] 2 All ER 834.

What was the outcome of HKSAR v. F.S.L. [2026] HKCFA 13?

The Court of Final Appeal allowed the appeal in HKSAR v. F.S.L. [2026] HKCFA 13, holding 'I would accordingly allow the appeal and answer the certified question in the negative,' following the Court of Appeal judgment HKSAR v. F.S.L. [2025] HKCA 598.

Which earlier proceedings preceded HKSAR v. F.S.L. [2026] HKCFA 13?

HKSAR v. F.S.L. [2026] HKCFA 13 followed the Court of Appeal's decision in HKSAR v. F.S.L. [2025] HKCA 598 and the Court of Final Appeal's own leave ruling in HKSAR v. F.S.L. [2025] HKCFA 24, both concerning the same defendant.

Statutes Cited

Crimes Ordinance (Cap 200)

s 146

Criminal Procedure Ordinance

s 83(1)

Cases Cited (17)

UK (7)

[1951] 2 All ER 834 [1971] 1 QB 432 [1989] AC 28 [2013] EWCA Crim 2574 [2019] 1 WLR 3177 [2019] 4 WLR 43 [2023] 4 WLR 13

HK (10)

(1999) 2 HKCFAR 539 (2010) 13 HKCFAR 142 (2013) 16 HKCFAR 195 (2013) 16 HKCFAR 413 (2015) 18 HKCFAR 292 (2016) 19 HKCFAR 279 (2018) 21 HKCFAR 167 [1997] HKLRD 428 [2025] HKCA 598 [2025] HKCFA 24