Airguns for film project, ex-RTHK intern says

Student denies having imitation firearms with criminal intent, telling court they were props

A former part-time RTHK reporter prosecuted for carrying two airguns and a walkie-talkie near the Hong Kong Police College last year has said the items were props in a school project.

Hong Kong Design Institute graduate Hung Ka-wing, who now works as a cook, stood trial at Eastern Court yesterday having previously denied possession of imitation firearms and radio communication apparatus without a licence on April 15, 2021.

Hung, 22, was on his way to cover performances at an open house event at the police academy in Wong Chuk Hang for public broadcaster RTHK, when he was stopped for an identity check at Exit B of Ocean Park MTR station at about 8.10am.

The event was part of an official campaign to mark the first National Security Education Day since the national security law was imposed in June 2020.

The law criminalises acts of secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces, with a minimum jail sentence of 10 years in serious cases.

Hung, who was pursuing a higher diploma in film, television and photography, began working in RTHK as an intern in March last year, as he needed at least 90 minutes’ work experience to graduate.

Hung’s supervisor, RTHK multimedia chief editor Steven Chen Yi-an, testified the radio device and two plastic pistols seized from Hung were not required in his job duties, nor was Hung told to carry the items to the police premises.

Under caution, Hung said the items in contention were props he used in producing a 30-minute sci-fi movie for his graduation project.

The defendant detailed his project plan in a subsequent interview with police, where he admitted borrowing the air pistols from a friend on Instagram and had specifically asked for toy guns that did not “look too fake”.

The walkie-talkie, Hung said, was bought at a flea market on Ap Liu Street in Sham Shui Po. He said he had double-checked with the shopkeeper the device could be used without needing the approval of the Communications Authority.

On why he had brought the items to work, Hung said he had stayed overnight at a friend’s home in Ma On Shan the previous day to celebrate the completion of the film’s production, and had decided to go straight to the police academy from the New Territories town that morning with the airguns and walkie-talkie to save travelling time.