Hong Kong protests: student handed probation for throwing brick at water cannon truck, waiter gets community service for possessing spanners

The brick-throwing incident took place during a protest on January 1, and reportedly left the water cannon truck with a 8cm scratch

The waiter, meanwhile, had planned to use the spanners to dismantle metal barriers along roadways

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Anti-government protesters participate in a New Year's Day march organised by the Civil Human Rights Front on Hennessy Road in Causeway Bay earlier this year. Photo: Nora Tam

Published: 7:29pm, 25 Aug 2020Updated: 7:47pm, 25 Aug 2020

A young protester who admitted to hurling a brick at a police water cannon vehicle and carrying flammable liquids to an anti-government protest has been sentenced to 18 months’ probation.

Tertiary student Chan Yip-wang was spared jail at Eastern Court on Tuesday over his involvement in the demonstration on Hong Kong Island on January 1.

The court heard that the 18-year-old threw a brick towards a water cannon truck at 7pm as police were dispersing protesters in Wan Chai and Causeway Bay. He was later subdued by three officers, who found a bottle of paint thinner, a box cutter, a lighter and a hammer in his possession.

The brick left an 8cm scratch on the police vehicle, which cost the force HK$9,900 to repair.

Earlier this month, Chan pleaded guilty to criminal damage and possessing items with intent to damage property, but Principal Magistrate Bina Chainrai refused to endorse that plea after pointing to insufficient evidence to support the latter charge.