RTHK Senior News Editor Sentenced for Upskirting in Mong Kok
Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) Assistant Chief Assignment Editor Chong Tak-yin was sentenced to 160 hours of community service at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts after pleading guilty to unlawful recording or observation of intimate parts. Magistrate Jeffrey Sze handed down the sentence following an incident on November 14 last year, where patrolling police officers caught the 57-year-old filming up a woman’s skirt in Mong Kok.
Legal Proceedings and Sentencing at West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts
Chong appeared before Magistrate Jeffrey Sze to face one count of unlawful recording or observation of intimate parts. Court news outlet The Witness reported that Chong’s defence counsel submitted positive probation and community service reports. According to these documents, the 57-year-old maintained a stable family background, a good work record, and presented a low risk of reoffending.
The maximum penalty for upskirting reaches five years’ imprisonment. However, the court weighed mitigating factors, including Chong’s full cooperation during the police investigation and genuine remorse. The defence noted that Chong actively sought professional psychological help following the single incident, which contributed to the community service order rather than a custodial sentence.
Details of the Mong Kok Incident and Police Interception
The offense occurred on November 14 of last year along Tung Choi Street in Mong Kok. Police officers on routine patrol observed Chong acting suspiciously while following a woman wearing a brown skirt. According to court records, Chong held his mobile phone at a 45-degree angle beneath the victim.
Officers intercepted Chong immediately and discovered a 17-second video on his device that clearly showed the victim’s underwear. Under police caution, Chong admitted to acting out of sexual impulse, describing the act as a “moment of lustfulness,” and begged officers for a second chance.
Mitigation Arguments and Professional Impact
During earlier mitigation hearings, the court heard that Chong’s household relied on his monthly salary of approximately HK$90,000 to support his wife, an unemployed older son, and a younger son currently in school. Chong chose to plead guilty earlier in the month to avoid leaving a negative impression on his sons.
Despite the criminal conviction and subsequent community service order, government records continue to list Chong as an editor on the official civil servants directory.