Ending

 (p 300) 

⚫ Refined the 2nd part of proportionality test 

◼ Application: varied according to the nature of the right at issue

⚫ 1

st part of proportionality test: largely similar way

◼ Requirement:

◆ The party defending the restriction on a particular right → prove: 

rationally connected with legitimate purposes

⚫ Legitimate purposes

◼ ICCPR

◼ No reasons listed → court to decide

⚫ Difficult to prove

◼ Kong Yunming

◼ Chan Kim Sum

(p 302 - 303)

⚫ 2

nd part of the test: “minimal impairment’ test - necessary extent of the 

restriction

◼ Chan Kin Sum

◼ Ng Kung Siu

(p 303)

⚫ 2

nd part: applied varied according to nature of rights at issue

◼ Violate the “respect and dignity that society accords to a human being”

◆ Particular severe scrutiny

◆ Weighty evidence

◆ Fok Chun Wa: extremely rarely

◼ (p 304 – 305)

Social and economic rights involving public funds expenditure: Much 

milder form

◆ Examples

⚫ Fok Chun Wa + Kong Yunming

⚫ Still failed: Kong Yunming

◆ Deference: margin of appreciation

⚫ Examples: life sentence + time limit on appeals against 

electoral rsutls

◆ Criticism: no universal suffrag