This comes as a police officer who was supposed to testify as a witness dropped out after he “emigrated” to Macau, an arrangement slammed by District Court judge Clement Lee Hing-nin.

Tsang Wai-lung, 31, pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to commit arson at the District Court today. He also denied an alternative charge of possessing anything with intent to destroy or damage property.

In the opening statement, the prosecution said Tsang was arrested near the Education University on October 20, 2019, after police officers found a cardboard box containing 40 glass bottles and three plastic bottles with liquid, as well as two lighters.

The officers found the box was unsealed and was covered by a blue car seat cushion, and there was also a smell of petrol inside the box, the prosecution said. After testing, the liquid was found to be gasoline, bleach and drain cleaner.

Tsang had told the police a male student contacted him on October 19 and asked to rent his taxi to carry some “supplies” from the Education University to Kowloon, the prosecution said.

Tsang arrived at the university at around 12pm on the day, and a man wearing a mask handed him the cardboard box, saying it contained medical supplies. Tsang admitted he felt there were some bottles with liquid inside the box, but said he didn't smell gasoline.

The prosecution also mentioned in the statement that Tsang told the police he was on a day off on October 20 and he planned to walk a dog with a female friend in Kai Tak Runway Park in the afternoon.

At the beginning of the hearing, the prosecution said a police constable who was supposed to testify as a witness had quitted his job and “emigrated” to Macau.

“I don’t understand, since Macau is part of China, how can you use the word ‘emigrate’?” Lee asked.

Lee also criticized the prosecution for not being able to answer when the witness left the police force.

“You didn’t get witnesses prepared for the court, and even failed to prepare the explanation to the court. Are you working like this now?”

The prosecution then told the court the witness left the police force on September 13 last year, and said he would consider coming to Hong Kong to testify depending on the Covid-19 pandemic situation.

But Lee said the court would not wait for him, and stressed the prosecution was responsible for making sure the witness would appear in court.

“It's strange that one person in such a huge police force can decide not to testify in court as he doesn’t want to. Where is the justice?” Lee said. “Do we have to wait for him until everyone in the world is vaccinated?”

The prosecution then decided not to summon the witness after discussing it with the defense.