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Hong Kong protests: court dismisses claims police officers violated procedure when arresting boy, 15, allegedly carrying laser pointer, modified umbrella and hiking stick

  • Acting chief magistrate Victor So finds no issues with way police questioned the boy who pleaded ‘entirely of his own will’
  • Arresting officer admits he overlooked checking defendant’s date of birth when inspecting his identity card

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West Kowloon Court heard police had interviewed the boy in his parents’ absence without cautioning him, contravening a directive issued by the Security Bureau. Photo: Felix Wong

A Hong Kong court has dismissed claims two police officers violated procedure when they arrested and questioned a 15-year-old boy for possessing a laser pointer, a modified umbrella and a hiking stick without noticing he was under age.

The boy, now 16, who cannot be named for legal reasons, allegedly had the prohibited items near the bus terminal at Tuen Mun MTR Station on September 21, the day demonstrators staged a rally in the rural town.

He was the first to be tried over the months-long anti-government protests after he denied one count each of possession of an instrument fit for unlawful purposes and possession of offensive weapons in a public place.

Defence lawyer Robert Pang Yiu-hung SC told West Kowloon Court on Wednesday police had interviewed his client in his parents’ absence without cautioning him, contravening the rules and directions for questioning suspects and taking statements under a directive issued by the Security Bureau.

But acting chief magistrate Victor So Wai-tak found no issues in the way police questioned the boy, and that he had pleaded “entirely on his own will”.

“After taking into account the circumstances of arrest and the defendant’s age, the court failed to see any evidence it should rule inadmissible,” So said.

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