Actor Gregory Wong among 12 jailed over 2019 legislature storming

Twelve Hongkongers including actor Gregory Wong Chung-yiu were jailed on Saturday for up to seven years over the storming of the Legislative Council in 2019 during the height of pro-democracy protests that challenged the Beijing-backed government. 

A total of 14 people were later charged with rioting and other offenses such as criminal damage and entering the legislative chamber. 

Twelve of them were handed a prison sentence from six-and-a-half to seven years after being earlier convicted of rioting. The actual jail terms will be slightly reduced ranging from 54 to 82 months for various reasons including guilty pleas. 

Lam Kam-kwan, 28, was handed the heaviest term of six years and ten months as deputy judge Li Chi-ho of the District Court noted it was Lam who damaged the glass door of LegCo which led to further storming. 

Although Lam didn’t enter LegCo, his involvement was of the most serious nature for his actions pushed the event forward, Li said. 

Wong, 45, earlier told the court he had only stayed at the scene of the riot for around five minutes, but Li said this wasn’t a reason for mitigation, adding the riot was formed by the participation of each and every protester. 

Wong was then jailed for six years and two months, while 28-year-old Althea Suen, a children’s rights activist and the former president of the HKU students’ union, was sentenced to four years and nine months. 

Democrat Lau Wing-hong, 30, was jailed for 54 months and 20 days and activist Chow Ka-shing, 27, was jailed for 61 months and 15 days. 

Li also stressed the symbolic significance of the legislature storming and its “long-lasting effects” on society. “Aside from the actual damage to the building, it had a symbolic meaning … (which was) challenging the Hong Kong government and even weakening its governance,” Li said. 

Protesters committed “insulting and provocative” acts such as tearing up copies of Hong Kong’s constitutional text, the Basic Law, and displaying colonial-era flags, he added. 

Two former reporters Ma Kai-chung and Wong Ka-ho charged alongside the 12 were not convicted of rioting but were fined HK$1,000 and HK$1,500 respectively for “entering or staying in the Legislative Council chamber”. 

The other defendants include Lo Lok-sang, Ho Chun-yin, Amy Pat Wai-fan, Pun Ho-chiu, Shum Keng-lok, Ng Chi-yung, Fan Chun-man. 

The defendants waved vigorously to the courtroom public gallery as they were led away after sentencing, with many friends and supporters left in tears. 

(Staff reporter / AFP)

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