A university student was acquitted yesterday of possessing an illegal air pistol and ammunition.
Third-year social science student Chan Hoi-tat, 22, had denied one count of possessing a firearm and another of possessing ammunition.
Police found an air pistol in his backpack on November 27 last year at a Causeway Bay restaurant, Eastern Court heard. A quantity of 4.5mm ball bearings was found at his Tuen Mun home.
Magistrate Robert McNair said although the air pistol was a firearm as defined under Hong Kong law, he accepted Mr Chan had done what he could to avoid buying an illegal weapon.
The gun was found to produce more than 2.674 joules, a unit for measuring electrical, mechanical and heat energy. An air pistol that produces more than two joules is considered a firearm under Hong Kong law.
Mr Chan, who began his air pistol hobby five years ago, said he bought the gun from a shop in Mongkok called Armed Forces Company in April or May last year.
