Man jailed for a year over possession of petrol bombs during Hong Kong protests
- Lau Ka-pak was caught carrying two petrol bombs alongside other weapons during a demonstration at Tseung Kwan O on October 13
- Defence counsel pleaded for leniency, but acting principal magistrate Ivy Chui said a deterrent sentence was inevitable
A man was jailed for a year on Thursday over the possession of petrol bombs, the first sentence for such offences since anti-government protests erupted in Hong Kong in June last year.
The sentencing of Lau Ka-pak, an unemployed 22-year-old, was part of a series of several protest-related cases handled by Kwun Tong, West Kowloon and Eastern courts in the city on Thursday.
Lau was caught carrying two petrol bombs alongside other weapons during a demonstration in October.
He pleaded guilty to one count of possession of offensive weapons in a public place at Kwun Tong Court. Under Section 33 of the Public Order Ordinance, a custodial sentence is the only sentencing option for such offenders aged between 17 and 25.
The defence counsel pleaded for leniency, saying that Lau had reflected deeply on his actions during his remand, and that he felt he should have expressed his views in a rational and peaceful manner.