Teen Gets Probation For Hitting Officer With Brick

A 17-year-old student has been handed a 12-month probation order for hitting a police officer with a brick in Mong Kok in January.

The student had earlier pleaded guilty to one count of assaulting a police officer.

Upon sentencing at Kowloon City Magistrates' Court, principle magistrate Ada Yim took into account the defendant's age, his guilty plea, that he had no criminal record, and that relatives, friends, and teachers praised his character.

She also acknowledged a medical report that said he was diagnosed with autism in May, and decided that a 12-month probation order – in which the defendant's progress will need to be reviewed after six months – was appropriate.

However, Yim pointed out that probation orders are not often handed down in serious cases like this, and said she hopes the defendant will improve on how to manage his emotions and think carefully about the consequences of his actions during the probation order.

The teen was arrested in relation to protests on January 19, which began with a rally in Chater Garden to urge the international community to put sanctions on Hong Kong officials who undermine human rights.

The rally was not given police approval, and also spread to Mong Kok later that evening.