Hong Kong's High Court on Monday sentenced a 21-year-old man to seven years and nine months in jail for cutting the neck of a police officer during the social unrest in 2019.

Hui Tim-lik, then a Form Six student at De La Salle Secondary School, slashed Sergeant Wesley Leung Siu-cheung's neck with a box cutter and left a 3.5 centimeter-long wound at a riot outside Kwun Tong MTR station.

Judge Andrew Chan Hing-wai said that Hui had intentionally attacked an on-duty police officer, which might have resulted in Leung's death if the police officer was not treated in a timely manner.

Leung's vocal cords were severely damaged and are unlikely to fully recover, said Chan, adding that a deterrent sentence should be made.

Having been remanded in custody for 27 months, Hui pleaded guilty to the charge of wounding with intent on Jan 11. He was originally charged with attempted murder.