3. Sections 17 and 19 of the Offences against the Person Ordinance (Cap. 212): Wounding

3. Sections 17 and 19 of the Offences against the Person Ordinance (Cap. 212): Wounding

The Legislation

Shooting or attempting to shoot, or wounding or striking with intent to do grievous bodily harm  

Under section 17 of the Offences against the Person Ordinance, any person who, with a specified malicious intent—that is, an intent to do grievous bodily harm to another (for example, to maim, disfigure or disable), or an intent to prevent any person from being lawfully arrested or detained—does any of the following commits a serious criminal offence: 

• unlawfully wounds another or causes grievous bodily harm to another by any means; 
• shoots at another; or 
• attempts to shoot at another with a loaded firearm, even if no bullet is in fact discharged. 

The maximum penalty for this offence is life imprisonment. 

Wounding or inflicting grievous bodily harm 

Under section 19 of the Offences against the Person Ordinance, any person who unlawfully and maliciously wounds another, or inflicts grievous bodily harm upon another, whether with bare hands or by means of any weapon or instrument, commits a criminal offence punishable by up to 3 years' imprisonment.