Teenager prodded to win freedom

The Chief Judge persuaded a jittery teenage thief to continue his fight to be released from jail yesterday after the youth said he wanted to quit.

Fung Chun-yip's decision to persist paid off when Mr Justice Patrick Chan Siu-oi set him free.

Fung, 18, appeared in the Court of First Instance without a lawyer to appeal against a four-month prison term.

But when he entered the dock, he told Mr Justice Chan he wanted to abandon his case.

But the Chief Judge told him: 'I would not advise that because I think you have a good chance of winning.' Fung said he could not decide what to do. The judge told him not to waste time.

The court has the power to increase sentences on appeal as well as lowering them.