Eighteen people convicted for rioting outside PolyU during social unrest

Eighteen people were found guilty on Saturday for rioting outside Polytechnic University in November 2019 as the judge blasted them for encouraging others to disrupt social order and noted the defendants must have known they were in a riot at the time. 

The 18 people were Lo Chun-hin, Lui Fung, Marry Aurora Ng, Alan Ngai Cheuk-kit, Siu Chun-man, Siu Tsz-wai, Siu Wing-sum, Wong Ching-fei, Wong Mon Tsz-ching, Cheung Chun-hung, Cheung Yuen-yi, Amanda Chiu Wing-chi, Chung Hoi-man, Gurung Karma Choe Key, Huang Yuan-shi, Samuel Lam Kin-shun, Li Tsun-wai, Ho Ning-yan. 

They pleaded not guilty to rioting on Nathan Road in Yau Ma Tei on November 18, 2019, but were all convicted by judge Douglas Yau Tak-hong in the District Court today. 

Cheung Chun-hung was also convicted of possessing instrument with intent to damage property for keeping gasoline, some clothes and four lighters. 

Codefendant Thomas Cheng Man-ho had earlier pleaded guilty. 

When delivering the verdict, judge Yau said the rioters had been taking advantage of the convenient transport network at the scene to confront police. 

Yau added the government and other media outlets had also been covering the protests in real-time and all 19 of them had a smartphone, meaning they must have known there were riots occurring on Nathan Road and Waterloo Road like any other people living in Hong Kong. 

Although the defendants claimed they were innocent passers-by and were at the scene as a first-aider, Yau pointed out they were all dressed in black and possessed protesters’ gear. He then ruled the defendants were encouraging the rioters there to disrupt social order through confronting the police, blocking roads and providing rioters with first-aid. 

Judge Yau adjourned the case to July 15 for mitigation and sentencing. All 19 defendants will be remanded in custody until then.