An unemployed man and former civil servant appeared in court today charged with starting a fire inside a Hong Kong train station in January.
Lau Chung-kwan, 59, was arrested on suspicion of starting a fire near one of the exits inside Mong Kok MTR station on January 12.
Lau was initially charged with arson, but during his appearance at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Court today, the prosecution applied for the case to be transferred to the District Court and for the charge to be changed to “arson with intent,” on.cc reports
Under the Crimes Ordinance, arson involves deliberately setting fire to property, buildings, and vehicles, while “arson with intent” in this case would involve recklessness as to whether the lives of others would be endangered, according to on.cc.
Acting Principal Magistrate Ada Yim also quoted a police report, which said that during a preliminary investigation, officers found a suicide note written by the defendant.
Lau’s attorney told the court that the defendant previously worked as a civil servant, and is currently living on a pension of about HK$7,000 (US$892) per month. He was initially released on bail after his arrest, but Yim today referred the case to the District Court on May 28, and refused the defendant’s application for bail. Lau was remanded in custody.
Lau was not required to enter a plea today.
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