The High Court on Friday handed down the sentence to Wang Minjiang, 36, in the first case to be decided by the court under a new law aimed at protecting the young from sexual exploitation.

The provision in the Penal Code, which makes it a crime to pay for sex with someone under the age of 18, came into effect in February.

The one-year jail jail term will serve as a sentencing guideline in future cases.

Wang had originally been fined $8,000 for the offence by a district court but the prosecution appealed, arguing he should be jailed between 12 and 18 months.

The offence carries a maximum jail term of seven years, a fine or both.