A Hong Kong woman has been jailed for two and a half years for rioting during a protest in 2019 when she was 16, after the judge decided against a custodial alternative often considered for young offenders.
Tsang Ling-yi, now 20, appeared at West Kowloon Magistrates’ Court for sentencing in the District Court case on Monday afternoon. Last December, she changed her plea to plead guilty to rioting in Wan Chai in October 2019, The Witness reported.
The case revolved around a protest near Hennessy Road on October 6, 2019, when the government’s mask ban – meant to deter protesters from hiding their identities – came into effect. Rallies broke out across the city that day, with demonstrators setting road blocks and throwing petrol bombs while police fired tear gas.
Tsang’s sentencing was previously pushed back to allow more time for mitigation and for the judge to decide an appropriate punishment. Given her age, the court had twice sought background reports to assess if Tsang should be sentenced to a training centre, according to local media. Training centres are an alternative to imprisonment for young offenders and place emphasis on rehabilitation.
Read more at HKFP
Hongkonger jailed for 2.5 years for rioting during 2019 protest when she was 16
