Puzzled by judge's remark

I refer to remarks attributed to Justice Charles Ching (South China Morning Post, August 8).

Justice Ching, in announcing the rejection of the appeal against conviction by Police Superintendent Peter MacLennan, for indecent assault, remarked that MacLennan was an expatriate, while the victim was Chinese. As he included it in this address to the Court, I must presume that Justice Ching considered this factor to be relevant to his findings.

As far as I am aware, this is the first time that ethnicity has been deemed to be relevant in such a case. I am sure that many people would find it helpful if the learned judge would publicly expound upon his reasoning in this regard.

TREVOR HOLLINGSBEE Kowloon