A Hong Kong District Court judge sentenced a 23-year-old man to four years in prison on Wednesday for possessing an offensive weapon in a public place and attempting to commit arson during last year’s social unrest.

Lighting technician Yiu Siu-hong was found with two gasoline bombs and a firelighter during a clash between police and radical protesters outside Tseung Kwan O’s Tong Ming Street Park on Oct 13

Lighting technician Yiu Siu-hong was found with two gasoline bombs and a firelighter during a clash between police and radical protesters outside Tseung Kwan O’s Tong Ming Street Park on Oct 13.

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Yiu earlier confessed to the court that his intent was to hurl the gasoline bombs at road barriers in an attempt to hinder the police operation taking place there at the time.

District Judge Amanda Jane Woodcock said it is utterly unacceptable that Yiu turned to gasoline bombs to express his political views, adding that his conduct could never be seen as a peaceful protest and that he could never be called a “protester”. The judge described Yiu as a “criminal”.

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