Hong Kong protests: Remand in jail for student, 17, who was caught with hammer, petrol bomb in his backpack

Choi Tsz-kit had pleaded guilty to possessing offensive weapons in a public place

He was arrested in Tuen Mun on November 11, the day when radical protesters caused citywide traffic disruptions

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Police using pepper spray during an anti-government protest in Tuen Mun in November. Photo: Handout

Published: 7:55pm, 31 Mar 2020Updated: 7:55pm, 31 Mar 2020

A 17-year-old student in Hong Kong was remanded in jail by a court on Tuesday after he admitted to carrying a petrol bomb and hammer near a crime scene during a protest four months ago.

The defendant, Choi Tsz-kit, was arrested at around 5am on November 11, the day when radical protesters caused citywide traffic disruptions in a campaign that aimed to bring the city to a standstill.

Tuen Mun Court heard Choi was among three people in the vicinity of an MTR Light Rail station in Tuen Mun vandalised by anti-government protesters, but no evidence showed that the student from Youth College of the Vocational Training Council took part in defacing the railway facility.

Police officers subdued the defendant after a chase, but were unable to catch the other two. They found a petrol bomb in Choi’s backpack, and seized a 35cm hammer which he dumped on the ground during the run.

Tuesday’s hearing was held at the Tuen Mun Law Courts Building. Photo: K.Y. Cheng

Choi pleaded guilty to possessing offensive weapons in a public place, an offence which is accompanied by a custodial sentence.

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