'Protest Victim' Jailed Over Lennon Wall Attack

A tour guide has been jailed for three years and nine months for a chopper attack on three people at a pro-democracy "Lennon Wall" in Tseung Kwan O last August, despite the judge saying the defendant was himself a "victim" of the anti-government unrest.

Tony Hung, 50, had pleaded guilty to three counts of wounding with intent.

His lawyer had told the District Court that Hung's income as a tour guide had been badly affected by the protest movement and he wouldn't have done what he did if it wasn't for the unprecedented unrest in the city at the time.

Judge Kwok Wai-kin agreed during sentencing on Friday that the anti-government protesters had been "like an army", beating people up and blocking roads.

Kwok said protesters who hurt ordinary people while pursuing their cause are no different from terrorists.

He said it was no wonder that Hung didn't agree with the views of his victims, being as anti-government protesters had stamped on and even "destroyed" his right to work and make a living.

A video of the attack which had circulated on social media showed chaotic scenes at a pedestrian tunnel near King Lam Estate where people had put up the "Lennon Wall", made up of stickers and posters supporting the ongoing anti-government protests.

Witnesses spoke of seeing a man arguing with a man and two women before he attacked the trio in the early hours of August 20. All three victims were taken to hospital with chop wounds, with one left in a critical condition for a while.

In mitigation, Hung's lawyer said his client was genuinely remorseful and isn't a violent person, and he would like to apologise to the victims and the people of Hong Kong.

The judge said the starting point for the crime was six years imprisonment, but he was reducing this to 45 months given Hung's guilty plea, the fact that he had surrendered, and because he was sympathetic to Hung's concern as to the effect his time away would have on his mother and son.