Hong Kong police responded to two reports about the man on Wednesday night, first spotting him carrying a "pistol-like object" in an alleyway near Shanghai Street in the Yau Ma Tei district just after 10pm. About 15 minutes later, police received a second report that the man had tried to enter a bar in the neighbouring Jordan district.
According to a spokesperson for the Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF), officers arrived at the scene and seized a suspected air gun. The man was arrested and taken to Yau Ma Tei Police Station, where he allegedly damaged a wall and a smoke detector while in custody.
The HKPF confirmed the man has been charged with one count of possession of an imitation firearm and one count of criminal damage. Local media outlet The Standard reported that the man was on holiday with his family and had been drinking alcohol, entering the bar to use the toilet before being asked to leave by staff.
Multiple local media reports described the object as a "toy gun", though the ABC could not independently verify this claim. Hong Kong has strict laws governing firearms and imitation firearms, though toy guns are legally available in some shops. Authorities have tightened security measures in recent years following the large-scale anti-extradition protests in 2019.
Enshen Li, associate professor at City University of Hong Kong, said the consequences would depend on whether the object seized by police was legally considered an imitation firearm or a toy.
The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) confirmed it is providing consular assistance to the family of the Australian citizen. The case is expected to be mentioned at West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today.