Former Scholarism spokeswoman Prince Wong and 13 others jailed over PolyU siege

Former Scholarism spokeswoman Prince Wong Ji-yuet and another 13 people were jailed for three years to four years and four months on Thursday for rioting outside the Polytechnic University during the social unrest in 2019. 

Passing down the sentence in the District Court today, deputy district judge Stephanie Tsui May-har, started the jail term of 25-year-old Wong at 54 months and reduced it to 37 months, given that she pleaded guilty and her volunteering work contributed greatly to society. 

Tsui noted that Wong had been studying a psychological counseling course while she was remanded in custody, and she wished to focus on art therapy and help students with special education needs. 

Although Wong suffered from depression, she dealt with the issue positively and her condition improved, Tsui added. 

Yet, Tsui blasted the “rescue protests” the defendants took part in were carefully crafted and the number of participants once reached up to 2,000. It was only lucky there were not many casualties from the often violent acts that would never be tolerated, she added. 

The other 14 defendants are Yung Tsz-yan, 24; Chau Yiu-tin, 25; Chung Wing-cheung, 48; Chung Yiu-hei, 38; Jason Loh, 22; Ng Chung-yin, 21; So Ho-yin, 28; Suen Ka-ho, 26; Tang Kin-fun, 31; Tsang Siu-pang, 24; Wong Hong-yu, 25; Wong Man-shan, 31; Yan Nim-yin, 20; and Lee Tsz-chung, 29. 

Prince Wong, Yung, Chau, Chung Wing-cheung, So, Suen, Tsang, Wong Hong-yu, Wong Man-shan, and Yan, all pleaded guilty to rioting on Nathan Road between Waterloo Road and Hamilton Street on November 18, 2019. 

Yan, who was only 16 at the time, was sent to a training center. The rest were jailed between three years to three years and five months. 

The remaining five – Chung Yiu-hei, Loh, Ng, Tang, and Lee – were convicted of rioting after they pleaded not guilty. They were jailed between four years and a month to four years and four months.