District court judge Douglas Yau Tak-hong said Fong, 23, acted against basic tenets of justice and that a fine or probation order are inadequate for such serious offenses, making a jail sentence the more appropriate option.

Fong had pleaded not guilty to carrying offensive weapons - specifically 10 laser pointers near Apliu and Kweilin streets in Sham Shui Po - and to resisting arrest.

Fong is also under scrutiny for resetting his phone shortly before officers seized it on August 6, 2019.

Though Fong was acquitted of possessing offensive weapons, he was convicted last February of resisting arrest and perverting the course of justice.

Fong's claims that the pointers are for stargazing are false, Yau said, adding it's possible Fong intended to use them himself or distribute them to others during protests.

Although Fong's case doesn't involve violence or intimidation, Yau said it remains a serious offense. Yau added immediate imprisonment is generally inevitable unless in exceptional circumstances.

By resetting his phone, Yau said, Fong's actions showed a degree of premeditation.

Though officers could still recover some information from the phone, Yau said the lack of voice data impeded evidence collection and perverted the course of justice.

The defense had earlier drawn attention to Fong's lack of a prior criminal record, adding that he had learned his lesson after being remanded in custody for eight weeks.

The University of Glasgow and SOAS University of London both offered Fong a place for the next academic year, with the former promising a scholarship. As such, the defense hoped Fong could be fined instead of imprisoned.

Letters from Fong's secondary school principal and mother were also presented, saying he only took up the position of union president when no one else came forward.