Actor, three others found guilty of rioting

Four men, including actor Gregory Wong Chung-yiu were convicted of rioting at the District Court yesterday for storming the Legislative Council complex on July 1, 2019, while two reporters were acquitted.

The six defendants earlier pleaded not guilty to rioting, but four of them - Wong, 44, transport worker Ho Chun-yin, 23, jobless Lam Kam-kwan, 27, and Ng Chi-yung, 28 - were convicted by deputy district judge Li Chi-ho.

The remaining two defendants - then reporter of online media Passion Times Ma Kai-chung, 34, and then student reporter from City University Wong Ka-ho, 24 - were acquitted of rioting but convicted of entering or remaining in precincts of the Legco chamber.

Ho was convicted of entering Legco complex illegally, Gregory Wong and Ng had pleaded guilty to the charge, while Lam was convicted of criminal damage.

The case was adjourned to next Tuesday and February 21 for mitigation and will hand down sentences on March 16. All defendants, except for the two reporters, were remanded in custody.

Li slammed Gregory Wong for making excuses for entering the Legco complex as the actor claimed he only entered the premises to hand a phone charger to a reporter.

It was unnecessary for him to enter the Legco complex to give the reporter a charger, as the building had already been stormed and damaged by protesters while the police were trying to disperse the crowds, Li said, adding he could have given the charger to the reporter outside the premises.

"What is even more baffling is that [Gregory Wong] said the charger can be given to any reporter. In that case, he could have looked for reporters outside the Legco complex instead of entering the building," Li said.

"However, he said he entered the complex as he did not notice any reporter, which is hardly convincing as video clips of the scene showed lots of media were livestreaming outside Legco."

Wong had many opportunities to pass the charger to reporters at the entrance, Li said, instead, he hugged a protester to show his support of their behavior.

"It is obvious that he entered Legco with the intention to participate in the riot," the judge said, adding his identity as an actor could draw protesters' attention and encourage their behavior.

While acquitting the two reporters, Li said they could explain their journalism work in detail during court hearings and provide photos taken at the time.

The court could not rule out the possibility that the two were telling the truth, he said, adding there was no evidence showing the two supported the riot.

Li claimed that there are still limitations on journalism work, but Wong Ka-ho picked up a Basic Law leaflet tampered by protesters to take photos without authorization, while Ma failed to heed a warning to vacate the premises.

wallis.wang@singtaonewscorp.com