SHE has a history of speeding and traffic offences.

So Hong Kong actress Angela Tong Ying Ying feared the worst when she turned up in court on Monday after another driving offence.

This time, it was for a drink-driving case in November.

The 33-year-old, who is a familiar face in Hong Kong TV serials, had hit a motorcycle in front of her, injuring the motorcyclist and the pillion rider.

But to her relief, she escaped jail, reported the Hong Kong papers.

She was ordered to do only 160 hours of community work and was fined just HK$1,200 ($240). Her licence was also suspended for a year.

Angela bowed towards the judge and said 'thank you' after her sentence was read out.

Not surprisingly, the light sentence upset a motorcycle interest group, which issued a statement to the media expressing its disappointment and doubt over the government's professed desire to tackle drink-driving.

When Angela met the media after her sentencing, she appeared a picture of remorse and vowed never to drink-drive again.

She claimed she had not been able to sleep the night before and would have respected the judge's decision if he had sent her to jail.

Recently, Michael Tse, another Hong Kong actor, was sentenced to six weeks' jail, also for a drink-driving offence.

Michael's breathalyser test reading was lower than Angela's, reported Apple Daily.

Her reading was 80micrograms per 100ml of blood, which is three times Hong Kong's legal limit of 22 micrograms.

'Showed remorse'

What reportedly swung the sentencing in Angela's favour was her counsellor's report, which said that she is 'deeply remorseful and sincere in repenting'.

Angela told the media: 'I learnt a valuable lesson, that drink-driving is a very irresponsible act.

'Public figures like us should be role models. I'm already very lucky that I have a chance to repent. Not everyone gets the chance.'

She also said that she will not hire a chauffeur while her licence is suspended and will take public transport instead.

On the night of the accident on 30 Nov, Angela was driving along Sai Kung Road when she was unable to stop in time at a traffic junction, hitting a motorbike ahead of her.

The pillion rider, a woman, was flung backwards, crashing into the windscreen of Angela's car.

Both the pillion rider and the motorcyclist suffered injuries on their limbs, reported Apple Daily.

Before that, Angela had been at a wrapping-up party for a TV serial where she had drunk whiskey.

This is not Angela's first traffic offence.

In the last 10 years, she has committed three offences, including speeding (in2003) and not observing a traffic sign (in 2005).

When asked about compensation for the motorcyclist and pillion rider, Angela said that she would leave it to her lawyer to handle.