Community Service For Man Who Burned National Flag

An apprentice barista has been given 240 hours of community service after admitting to trampling over and burning a national flag at a protest last year.

Tang Chi-lok pleaded guilty to desecrating the flag outside Tuen Mun Town Hall on September 21 while taking part in a "Reclaim Tuen Mun Park" protest.

The court heard that Tang took part in tearing up and setting alight the flag along with other demonstrators.

It heard that there was no evidence to show that he had purposefully brought a lighter with him to burn the flag, but that he did join in the act of setting it alight.

The prosecution had asked the court to postpone sentencing, saying that it wanted to wait for an appeal court decision on a similar case where the government is asking for a custodial punishment.

But acting principle magistrate Cheung Kit-yee rejected the request for a delay, saying that hearing has not been scheduled yet and it is not clear when it will take place.

Cheung said in his sentencing that the defendant had acted impulsively.

People found guilty of desecrating the national flag are liable to a fine of up to HK$50,000 and three years in prison.