Tough penalties for pornography peddlers were urged by a judge yesterday amid concern police and magistrates are being overwhelmed by cases.
Madam Justice Clare-Marie Beeson said that while courts had the power to impose a three-year jail term and $1 million fine for those who produced obscene material, salesmen often got off lightly.
'Clearly, the rewards for the Mr Bigs of the trade are such that they can afford to reopen sales venues as soon as they are closed,' she said in the Court of First Instance.
'Those selling goods are arrested and re-arrested while awaiting trial . . . the court must rely on sentences that are truly deterrent.
'Only then will they be discouraged from taking up and continuing this work.' Her comments came as she dismissed appeals by Yu Man-lung, Matthew Lam Siu-wah, Kwan Shiu-chung and Chu Sai-pun against eight-month jail sentences imposed by a magistrate after they admitted selling obscene video compact discs.
The four were caught selling the goods in Mongkok shops between May and July.
