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A schizophrenic love-sick student was sent to Siu Lam Psychiatric Centre for four months yesterday after holding a Hong Kong University clerk hostage at knifepoint for four hours when he was unable to see his Putonghua teacher, with whom he was infatuated.

American-Chinese Jason Lau Garman, 31, grabbed   senior clerk Fung Pik-shan outside Room 327 of the university's main building on June 8 after learning his teacher, a Ms Yeung, had quit her job.

Lau pleaded guilty in Western Court to one count of false imprisonment and one of possessing an offensive weapon.

He was cleared of one charge of wounding after the prosecution offered no evidence.

In mitigation, Lau's solicitor, Bucky Chan Kwai-hong, told Magistrate Tong Man his client still loved his Putonghua teacher and he had thought of marrying her when he first met her.

She had refused all his advances.

Lau said he would not marry anybody else, Mr Chan added.

He said two psychiatrists' reports ordered by the magistrate  showed Lau was suffering from schizophrenia and his mental condition had been worsening.

The court heard Lau had confronted a teaching assistant and a professor outside the room on June 8.

Lau offered to give the professor $500 to see Ms Yeung but he was told she no longer worked there.

As Lau was about to leave, he suddenly grabbed Ms Fung - who was passing by - round the neck and began shouting at others, ordering them to leave. The teaching assistant alerted the police.

During the ordeal, Lau pointed a 25cm letter opener at Ms Fung while police negotiators tried to persuade him to let her go.

He threatened to kill himself if he could not see the Putonghua teacher.

At 3.10pm, four hours after the incident began, Ms Fung managed to break free and police arrested Lau.

Medical reports revealed that Ms Fung suffered a 5cm cut on her left forearm and scratches on her hands.

Lau was found to have a 3cm cut on his left wrist, bruises on his hands and redness on his knees from the struggle with the victim and the police.

Lau, who emigrated to the US at the age of six, had taken a few lessons with Ms Yeung, who taught Putonghua at the university.

After considering the psychiatrists' reports, Mr Tong said it was appropriate to impose a hospital order on Lau.

He ordered him to receive four months' treatment at the centre.



Love-sick student jailed over standoff