Hong Kong government statistician cleared of loitering charge near girls’ school
A Hong Kong court has acquitted a government statistician accused of loitering near a girls’ school and outside a classroom to photograph a pupil, ruling that his conduct did not pose an actual threat despite leaving the girl feeling unsafe. Eastern Court Magistrate Kestrel Lam Tsz-hong on Tuesday found 59-year-old Patrick Lam Win-hon not guilty of one count of loitering causing concern, despite…
A Hong Kong court has dismissed a loitering charge against a 59-year-old government statistician accused of photographing a teenage girl outside her school. Eastern Court Magistrate Kestrel Lam Tsz-hong ruled that Patrick Lam Win-hon's actions did not pose a genuine threat, even though the girl felt unsafe. The defendant entered Causeway Bay's prestigious girls' school on July 5, 2022, and spent 14 minutes inside, focusing on a fourth-floor classroom where the target was seated.
Other students alerted teachers when the man was seen taking photographs through the window. Police found 46 photos of the girl, 17 of which contained her face. The girl, who had been following the same man for at least two years, reported the alleged stalking to school staff. Lam admitted to officers that he had followed the girl, claiming he wanted to reconnect with an old friend.
Despite the girl's safety concerns, the court found that Lam's behavior did not objectively warrant a loitering charge, as it only applies to threatening conduct. The magistrate suggested that anti-stalking legislation would be more appropriate for addressing such behavior, noting that the proposed law was still under discussion.
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