3 Hongkongers plead guilty to rioting in retrial after gov’t appeal
Hong Kong Free Press
Three Hongkongers have pleaded guilty to rioting during a 2019 protest in a retrial of their cases after the government appealed against their acquittals.
Appearing before Deputy District Judge David Ko on Monday, the three defendants – Angie Lee, 22; So Nga-yin, 26; and Henry Tse, 28 – each pleaded guilty to one count of rioting over their actions during a protest in Wan Chai on October 6, 2019.
The trio, along with two other defendants – Lam Hin-shing and Chan Lok-sun – were previously acquitted of the rioting charge in December 2021, but were found guilty of violating the city’s mask ban, which was put in place in October 2019 under the Emergency Regulations Ordinance.
Last year, the prosecution appealed against the court’s decision to acquit the five protesters of the rioting charge “by case stated,” which would allow the appeal court to overturn the acquittal and order a retrial. The Court of Appeal allowed the challenge last June.
Protests erupted in June 2019 over a since-axed extradition bill, escalating into sometimes violent displays of dissent against police behaviour, amid calls for democracy and anger over Beijing’s encroachment.
Guilty pleas
During the earlier trial, the prosecution alleged that the defendants were among more than 500 protesters who had gathered in the area along Hennessey Road in Wan Chai, building umbrella formations, shining laser pens at police officers, throwing petrol bombs, spray-painting graffiti that read “Chinazi” and “Communist Dogs,” and forming human chains to transport umbrellas and bottled water.
Lee, dressed in black and wearing goggles and a gas mask, was subdued and arrested after she charged and swung an umbrella at the police, the prosecution said. Officers found in her backpack three face masks, a collapsible umbrella, goggles, gloves, and 150 zip ties.
So was intercepted while running toward the pavement. She was dressed in black, wearing a mask and gloves, and had unopened scissors, a mask and an umbrella in her backpack. Tse was intercepted in a traffic lane, dressed in black and wearing a helmet, gas mask, goggles, gaiters, and protective sleeves.
According to court news outlet The Witness, Lee’s lawyer on Monday asked for a 25 per cent discount on her sentence as she was “particularly young” – only 17 years old – when she committed the offence.
She worked two jobs and did volunteer work since completing her higher diploma in 2022, he said, adding that she was a “good citizen.”
Lee had no intention to attack the police, and that the danger posed by the items in her back was low, the court heard.
Meanwhile, So’s lawyer said that she was studying for her bachelor’s degree in early education when she was arrested and had hoped to become a kindergarten teacher, but was unable to do so because of the rioting case.
So went on to study for a master’s degree in special education, hoping to become a behavioural therapist.
Tse’s lawyer also asked for a shorter sentence, with a 25 per cent discount, arguing that there was no concrete proof that Tse had resorted to violence. He also said that Tse had not given up on himself as he “hopes to learn from his mistakes” and to help emotionally distressed youths.
Lam and Chan are set to testify in court after an application to reopen the evidence of the case was granted.
Judge Ko adjourned sentencing to June 25 and ordered the trio to be brought back into detention.
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