Man charged by ICAC sentenced for inciting others not to vote at LegCo Election on internet
2026-5-18
A man charged by the ICAC was today (May 18) sentenced to two months’ imprisonment, suspended for 24 months, at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts after admitting that he had reposted an online post on his social media page which incited others not to vote at the 2025 Legislative Council General Election (LegCo Election) during the election period.
Lam Kin-sik, 67, unemployed, today pleaded guilty to one count of engaging in illegal conduct to incite another person not to vote by activity in public during election period, contrary to section 27A(1)(a) of the Elections (Corrupt and Illegal Conduct) Ordinance (ECICO).
In sentencing, Magistrate Ms Shirley Cornelia Hung remarked that a custodial sentence was inevitable given the serious nature of the offence involved in the present case. However, a suspended sentence was imposed on the defendant after considering his guilty plea and mitigating factors such as his health condition.
The court heard that nominations for the 2025 LegCo Election opened from October 24 last year. According to the ECICO, the period between that date and the polling day (December 7, 2025) was the “election period” for the election.
The defendant admitted that during the election period of the 2025 LegCo Election, he had reposted a post on his social media page that incited another person not to vote at the election. The post reposted by the defendant was published by Tong Wai-hung. A warrant for Tong’s arrest, who has since left Hong Kong, was earlier issued by a Magistrate upon the ICAC’s application.
An ICAC spokesperson notes that publicly inciting others not to vote or to cast invalid votes during the election period constitutes a violation of the law. The Commission takes resolute enforcement action to ensure that Hong Kong’s public elections are conducted fairly, openly and honestly without any interference, and does not tolerate anyone sabotaging or interfering with the elections.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Francis Tsang.
Lam Kin-sik, 67, unemployed, today pleaded guilty to one count of engaging in illegal conduct to incite another person not to vote by activity in public during election period, contrary to section 27A(1)(a) of the Elections (Corrupt and Illegal Conduct) Ordinance (ECICO).
In sentencing, Magistrate Ms Shirley Cornelia Hung remarked that a custodial sentence was inevitable given the serious nature of the offence involved in the present case. However, a suspended sentence was imposed on the defendant after considering his guilty plea and mitigating factors such as his health condition.
The court heard that nominations for the 2025 LegCo Election opened from October 24 last year. According to the ECICO, the period between that date and the polling day (December 7, 2025) was the “election period” for the election.
The defendant admitted that during the election period of the 2025 LegCo Election, he had reposted a post on his social media page that incited another person not to vote at the election. The post reposted by the defendant was published by Tong Wai-hung. A warrant for Tong’s arrest, who has since left Hong Kong, was earlier issued by a Magistrate upon the ICAC’s application.
An ICAC spokesperson notes that publicly inciting others not to vote or to cast invalid votes during the election period constitutes a violation of the law. The Commission takes resolute enforcement action to ensure that Hong Kong’s public elections are conducted fairly, openly and honestly without any interference, and does not tolerate anyone sabotaging or interfering with the elections.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Francis Tsang.