High Court Orders Retrial Of Social Worker

The Department of Justice (DoJ) was on Wednesday granted a request to challenge the not guilty verdict of a woman who had allegedly refused to present her ID card to the police during a protest in 2019.

The defendant, Lam Hiu-wa, was at a rally in Tsuen Wan on August 25 three years ago when she was asked to show her ID card.

Prosecution had said Lam responded with a loud voice asking the female inspector to show her warrant card before finally presenting her own ID card.

The social worker was charged with obstructing a police officer and an alternative count of failure to produce proof of her identity for inspection.

Magistrate Peony Wong had earlier acquitted her of both charges, saying Lam had shown her ID card at a reasonable time and did not obstruct the officer.

However, upon the DoJ’s application to review the case, High Court Judge Albert Wong decided that the magistrate had erred in her ruling and ordered a retrial.