A 22-year-old student who sent threatening e-mails to the chief executive and three other top government officials was put on probation for a year yesterday.
Tam Pak-hong, who suffers from Asperger's syndrome, an autism disorder, pleaded guilty in Eastern Court to six counts of criminal intimidation.
The court heard earlier that Tam committed the offences after becoming angry at news reports of what he saw as police incompetence and injustices.
Between December 13, 2009, and March 10 last year, Tam sent the e-mails to the Chief Executive's Office, the Financial Secretary's Office, the Chief Secretary's Office and the Police Public Relations Branch.
Tam named Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen, then-police commissioner Tang King-shing, Financial Secretary John Tsang Chun-wah and Chief Secretary Henry Tang Ying-yen in the e-mails, threatening to harm their families.
In one, he wrote: 'Since you allow cases involving the throwing of corrosive liquid to happen again, I have no choice but to request citizens to disturb your family, beat you, burn your cars and pour corrosive liquid and red paint outside your residence. If the situation remains serious, I will rape your wives and mothers with other citizens.'