Hong Kong protests: magistrate sticks to appeal court guidelines on ‘deterrence’ in sending university student to correctional facility

In sending Chan Tung-shing, 18, to a rehabilitation centre, Magistrate Norton Pang said he was ‘absolutely bound’ to adhere to recent higher court decision

The teen was found guilty of blocking roads and possessing Allen keys with the intent of using them to injure others at a November 13 protest

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Chan Tung-shing, 18, was sentenced to a correctional facility at West Kowloon Court on Tuesday for his actions at a November protest. Photo: Felix Wong

Published: 7:04pm, 6 Oct 2020Updated: 11:32pm, 6 Oct 2020

A university student has been sentenced to a correctional facility for blocking roads and possessing an offensive weapon at a Hong Kong protest last November.

West Kowloon Court on Tuesday sent Chan Tung-shing to the Lai Chi Rehabilitation Centre, on Lantau Island, a sentence that adhered to guidelines issued last month by an appeal court concerning sentencing for young offenders in serious cases.

The 18-year-old City University freshman was found guilty of barricading a roundabout in Tsing Yi using traffic cones, rubbish bins and plastic barriers on the night of November 13. He was also convicted of carrying a string of Allen keys with the intent of using them to injure others.

Chan Tung-shing will spend two to five months at the Lai Chi Rehabilitation Centre on Lantau Island. Photo: SCMP

In his ruling last month, Magistrate Norton Pang Leung-ting referred to Chan’s all-black attire in ascertaining his role in the demonstration, despite a lack of direct evidence showing his participation.

In Tuesday’s mitigation, Chan’s lawyer, Joey Chan Hei-man, said the student had stopped taking part in protests since his arrest and hoped to focus on his data science studies in the future to repay his family for their support.

The lawyer urged the court to consider passing a non-custodial sentence, despite the Correctional Services Department’s recommendation that he be placed under the supervision of one of its correctional centres.