A Hong Kong teenager could be facing jail time for hurling petrol bombs at a police station early this year, acknowledging in court on Friday that his reckless behaviour set a bad example that did not serve the aims of last year’s anti-government protest movement . The District Court heard that music teacher Kelvin Chan Chun-fai, 17, hurled two of the four petrol bombs thrown at Kwai Chung Police Station shortly after 8pm on January 29 this year in an attempt to set vehicles parked inside on fire. Chan admitted to making the firebombs from instructions found online after police found one can of lighter fluid, two bottles of drain cleaner, three empty bottles and 11 finished petrol bombs – three of which contained not only flammable solvents, but also highly corrosive substances capable of causing severe chemical burns – in his subdivided unit at an industrial building. Bank worker assaulted by protesters after retiree closed door on him, court hears The teenager also said he regretted his reckless behaviour, telling investigators he knew it did not help last year’s protest movement and had instead affected his future. Defence counsel Michael Leung Hung-kuk added: “He wanted to tell others who wanted to do the same not to go further – that he was a bad example.” On Friday, Chan pleaded guilty to one count of attempted arson and another count of possession of items with the intent to destroy or damage property. The charges carry a maximum sentence of seven years in prison when the case is heard at the District Court level. Acting senior public prosecutor Crystal Chan said a senior constable saw the defendant and at least two other black-clad men throwing the petrol bombs towards the vehicle gate of the police station. Security camera footage played in court showed the defendant hurling the petrol bombs from across the street, with the projectiles landing just outside the walls of the station and bursting into flames as a pedestrian and a handful of cars went past. Leung initially objected to the footage being shown, arguing that the relevant details had already been established in writing, but he acquiesced after District Judge Amanda Woodcock said the clip would let her see how the petrol bombs were thrown and what damage they caused. “I’m going to see for myself,” the judge said. Police also obtained footage showing the defendant going back and forth between the station and the Kingsford Industrial Building in Kwai Chung, where officers then staged an ambush operation and arrested him on February 4. Under caution, Chan admitted to throwing the petrol bombs towards the police station for fun, along with two other people he had met at a protest a month earlier whom he refused to name. Teen cleared of weapons charges after court rebukes officer over missing details In mitigation, Leung said that Chan struggled with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and oppositional defiant disorder, and felt very remorseful for his offence, which had shocked his friends. “To some extent it was out of impulse,” Leung continued. “But it was out of character.” The counsel also said the teenager had a low chance of offending again, arguing he be sent to a training centre rather than prison. But the judge observed that Chan had been well prepared for the offences. “I’m not of the view that training centre is appropriate,” she said. “These types of facts call for a deterrent sentence.” Still, the judge agreed to call for reports on Chan’s suitability for a training centre sentence and to assess his psychiatric condition. Chan will be sentenced on September 28.