(605)  SHRIEVAL CONTRIBUTION TO SINO-SCOTTISH RELATIONS

Chinese student Hui Yu was cleared of a motoring offence at a trial in Greenock Sheriff Court on 21 October 2006. Sheriff Margaret Gimblett (for whom see previously Nos 68, 85, 104) reached her decision after dismissing identification evidence from two police officers, reportedly commenting that at first glance all Chinese people can look the same to a native Scot, and differences would be noticed only after quite lengthy examination.  The sheriff’s remark was however supported by Sino-Scottish groups, who said that in context it was neither derogatory nor offensive, but in fact accurate; and that many Chinese felt the same way about Scots.  So Sheriff Gimblett’s contribution to Sino-Scottish relations may not turn out to be quite as damaging as that of Prince Charles, for which see HRH The Prince of Wales v Associated Newspapers Ltd (No 3) [2006] EWHC 522, para 33.