White-clad assailant sentenced 4 years and 3 months for Yuen Long MTR attack

A 64-year-old man who was convicted on charges of rioting and conspiracy to wound with intent in connection with the overnight violence at Yuen Long MTR station between July 21 and 22, 2019, has been sentenced to four years and three months in jail on Thursday.

West Kowloon Court deputy judge Newman Wong Hing-wai previously found the man - Ching Wai-ming, guilty after identifying him among a white-clad group of men wielding iron poles and rattan sticks at Yuen Long MTR station during the attack.  

The incident in 2019 saw around 100 attackers, clad in white t-shirts, storming the station that night and indiscriminately attacking at least 45 bystanders and passengers at the station.  

Passing sentence, the judge said Ching had actively participated in part of the riot, with Ching seen assembling with other assailants that evening, assaulting at least three people using rattan sticks, and instructing people to proceed to the station’s platform to carry on the attack before leaving the premises that day. Yet, the judge said Ching was not in a leading role throughout the incident, and the attack had not caused grave harm to the victims.

The judge noted that the incident had caused a public outcry, further polarizing people with different political views.

Meanwhile, the judge also said Ching had 10 criminal records, including convictions of illegal assembly, triad offenses, and assault, though such records were mostly from 20 to 30 years ago.

Wong handed down a starting sentence of four years and six months for Ching’s riot conviction, but reduced it by three months taking into account his age. Ching was also handed a two-year jail term for conspiracy to wound with intent that would run concurrently.

Read more: Man convicted of rioting and wounding in July 21 Yuen Long attack