CUHK medical doctoral student pleads guilty to upskirt photography

A 30-year-old medical doctoral student from the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) pleaded guilty to unlawful recording or observation of intimate parts at the Fanling Magistrates' Court Thursday morning.

The defendant, Tian Tian, was arrested last September after secretly using his mobile phone to photograph up a woman's skirt on an escalator at Uptown Plaza in Tai Po.

The incident occurred around 4 pm on September 25, when Tian allegedly positioned his phone in a way that concealed the private parts from normal view, acting with sexual intent or dishonesty and disregarding the woman's consent.

A male passerby noticed the defendant's actions and alerted the woman, who then stopped the defendant. She later found five upskirt photos of herself on the defendant's phone and called the police for help.

The defense pleaded for leniency, stating that the defendant is currently a medical doctoral candidate and that the crime was committed on impulse, not premeditated, and he now deeply regrets his actions.

Acting Principal Magistrate Veronica Heung Shuk-han described the case as serious, noting that imprisonment remains under consideration.

The matter was adjourned to January 26 for preparation of a community service order report, with the defendant released on bail pending sentencing.