Five rearrested for protest roles

Five people have been rearrested and three of them charged with rioting in connection with last year's unrest.

The four men and one woman will appear in Eastern Magistrates' courts today in two separate cases.

Of the five, a 25-year-old man and a 20-year-old woman were involved in the protest in Wan Chai on August 31.

Police said protesters blocked roads in Wan Chai in the afternoon on that day, and the two were arrested during the police dispersal operation.

The two later refused bail and were released pending further investigation, but were rearrested yesterday.

The man was charged with one count of taking part in a riot and another count for possessing a radio apparatus without a valid license, while the woman faced one count of taking part in a riot and other for possessing an offensive weapon.

The other three men, aged between 19 to 24, were involved in the protest on September 29 on Hong Kong Island, and were arrested when police dispersed protesters on that day. They later refused bail and were released pending further investigation before their arrest yesterday morning.

Of the three, a 21-year-old man was charged with one count of taking part in a riot, one count of assaulting a police officer, one count of possession of an offensive weapon, one count of possessing something with intent to destroy or damage property, and one count of possessing a radio apparatus without a valid license.

A 19-year-old youth and a 24-year-old man are facing a charge of unlawful assembly, while the 24-year-old was also charged with one count of possession of an offensive weapon.