Student Sent To Rehab Centre Over Tsing Yi Protest

An 18-year-old university student has been sentenced to at least three months in rehabilitation centre for blocking an intersection in Tsing Yi during anti-government protests last year.

Chan Tung-shing has been convicted of possessing offensive weapon and obstruction of public place on November 13.

The teenager was found guilty by the West Kowloon court after magistrate Norton Pang ruled that Chan must have been involved in the protests as he was wearing the same black outfit as other protesters when he was detained.

The officer who arrested him had told the court he had not witnessed Chan doing any crimes, but found a string of Allen keys when he was detained.

A group of black-clad protesters had blocked the road on that day responding to online calls to disrupt traffic and stage a general strike to protest against the government during the height on the social unrest that gripped the city.

In sentencing, the magistrate said a detention order is the only appropriate punishment he should hand down as it needed to deter other people from committing similar crimes.

In mitigation, the lawyer for Chan said the teenager didn’t do anything violent at the scene and there was no evidence to show anyone felt threatened by him.

The defence also said the teen has just got into the university he wants to be in, and had a clear direction for his future. Teachers from his secondary school had said his conduct was good and had a clear record.

The lawyer also sought bail for his client, saying they plan to appeal against his conviction. But the magistrate denied the request.

______________________________