Former District Councilor Accused of Breaching Social Distancing Measures Dismissed on Appeal

Judge: Analysis of trial magistrate 'rather puzzling'

Lance Yan Pui-lam, former member of Tuen Mun District Council Siu Chui constituency, was convicted earlier of violating the "social distancing measures" and was sentenced to 80 hours of community service. On appeal, the High Court ruled on Dec. 16, 2022, to revoke Yan’s conviction and sentence. Yan Pui-lam IG

A former Hong Kong district councilor, Lance Yan Pui-lam, was convicted of violating the “social distancing measures” earlier and was sentenced to 80 hours of community service. He appealed to the High Court against his conviction. The High Court ruled on Dec. 16 in favor of Yan and overturned the earlier sentence and penalty on him.

During the past three years of the COVID-19 pandemic in Hong Kong, “social distancing measures” were often used to restrict people’s freedom of movement and were also used by the Hong Kong government to suppress dissidents that the CCP dislikes.

Why Target Yan?

In the 2019 district council elections, candidates from the anti-extradition movement and the pan-democratic parties won 86 percent of the publically elected seats in the Hong Kong district council elections. This landslide victory by the democratic camp upended the traditional balance of power in the district councils, being manipulated until then by the CCP after the transfer of sovereignty.