A 17-year-old Wah Yan College, Kowloon, pupil was put on probation for one year yesterday for threatening to kill former chief executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen if he did not deliver HK$100 million, and making false bomb threats.
Acting Principal Magistrate Amanda Woodcock told Kwun Tong Court she had taken into consideration that Ho Lok-hei, a bright Form Five pupil with Asperger's syndrome - a disorder considered by some experts as being at the milder end of the autism spectrum - was unable to handle the pressure of exams.
She said this balanced out the seriousness of the offences in what was a marginal case for probation.
'Any student from a good school can suffer stress,' she told Ho. 'You chose to deal with it with methods that are in fact criminal offences.'
The probation order was made on the condition that Ho works, studies and resides according to direction, takes part in group activities and receives psychiatric treatment. The sentence would be reconsidered if he breaks the conditions or commits further offences.
'I hope that does not happen,' said Woodcock.