Hong Kong Today
in
Liberal Studies
Visit the link below to enjoy our comprehensive e-support!
Audio
Homework Helper
Write to Us
listen to the news story
log in to your personal account
to get your problems solved!
submit your writings online
http://stedu.stheadline.com
Fake-ID guard gets jail despite outcry
Judge says he had applied discretion to sentencing 73-year-old
Shih Chiao-jen (left)
lost his appeal against
a four-month sentence.
Hundreds of people sent
letters of support and
coupons to him (inset).
(Sing Tao Daily)
A
FRAIL 73-year-old man
who was sentenced to
four months in jail for using fake identity cards so he could continue
to work as a security guard had his appeal
against his sentence thrown out by the Tuen
Mun Magistrates’ Court (屯門裁判法院).
Shih Chiao-jen (施教仁) first bought a fake
identity card in 2008 at the age of 66 in Shenzhen (深圳), so he could continue working as
a security guard for three property management companies.
He earned a total of HK$540,000 using the
fake IDs, which showed he was born in 1952
and 1955, when he was actually born in 1942.
Prominent barrister Cheng Huan (清洪),
representing Shih pro bono, asked the court
to show mercy, arguing that Shih had already
been jailed for 33 days and his health had de-
teriorated since his incarceration. Cheng
said the medical report showed that apart
from high blood pressure and diabetes, he
also suffered from kidney disease.
ow
n
K
o
T
e
r
Mo
d
y c o n s id e re
ead
h e h a d a lr
id
a
s
i
L
e
c
y a p p li e d
Ju s ti
h a d a lr e a d
d
n
a
rs
to
Shih should be released or have his sen- va ri o u s fa c
sing fake
ion. Posses
is
c
e
d
e
th
d
tence shortened or suspended, as he had discretion in
and require
rious crime
se
a
s
a
w
s
oint
already learned a ‘bitter lesson’, he said.
identity card
a starting p
s
a
s
th
n
o
5m
ate.
time, with 1
the magistr
to
g
in
rd
Cheng also provided 300 letters from peo- jail
o
c
nce, ac
th e y
for any sente
ID s w h e n
e
k
fa
e
ple pleading for leniency. Hundreds of wellth
fo u n d
ar.
Po li c e h a d
heck last ye
c
e
n
ti
u
ro
a
wishers sent cards of support to Shih and his
ih during
searched Sh
wife and some came attached with more than
1,000 supermarket cash coupons and cake
coupons. Some cards also had meal vouchers
included.
Saying the four months’ sentence was already lenient, acting principal magistrate Li
Wai-chi (李唯治) said he could not understand
why the public had displayed such a strong
level of discontent. (The Standard, 6 May 2015)
P03
Monday 11 May 2015
Text: Ms Yee
Photos: Sing Tao Daily
5W1H
5W
When
5 May 2015.
Vocabulary
What
incarceration (n) 監禁
His appeal against a four-month
sentence failed.
M: Meaning
Where
Who
Hong Kong.
A 73-year-old man called
Shih Chiao-jen.
Why
How
E: Example
M: the act of being held in a prison
The judge said that possessing fake ID
cards is a serious crime.
Shih used fake ID cards to find a job
because he was too old.
E: The man fought his incarceration for
decades before his conviction was overturned.
The verb form is ‘incarcerate’ and it is
pronounced ‘in-CAR-sir-rate’. Another way to say
‘incarceration’ is ‘imprisonment’.
E: Thousands of rebels have been incarcerated
in the concentration camp.
E: He said his imprisonment was cruel and
unfair.
Comprehension
1
frail (adj) 瘦弱的
M: physically weak and thin
True or False
E: Suddenly, he noticed that his beloved mother
looked old and frail.
Answer if these statements are true (T) or false (F).
1. The name of the defendant is Shih Chiao-jen.
2
2. The defendant’s appeal was rejected.
fake (adj) 假的
M: not genuine
E: That shopkeeper was very unhappy because
she had accepted two fake banknotes.
3. He bought a fake ID card at the age of 73.
4. He bought the fake ID card in Hong Kong.
3
5. He earned over HK$500,000 using the fake IDs.
appeal (n) 上訴
M: a formal request to a court for a judgement to
be changed
6. The starting point of a jail sentence for possessing fake ID cards is 4 months.
E: She made an appeal but lost it.
Answers on P12
Think About It
Shih used fake ID cards to work and earn money by himself
because he did not want to apply for social assistance. This
was the main reason why so many people took pity on him and
wanted to help him. Do you think he was right to do this?
I feel that…
4
property (n) 地產
M: a building or buildings and the surrounding
land
E: Property prices seem to be still rising.
5
pro bono (adv phr) 不收費
M: done without asking for payment
E: These lawyers provided legal advice pro
bono.
6
mercy (n) 憐憫
M: a kind or forgiving attitude
E: The hijackers showed no mercy to the
hostages.