Hong Kong activist Wong Ji-yuet jailed for 37 months for rioting in 2019
Hong Kong Free Press
One of the 47 pro-democracy figures facing a charge under Hong Kong’s national security law has been sentenced to 37 months behind bars for rioting in 2019. Wong had been in remand since March after pleading guilty to a rioting charge and applied for her bail to be revoked.
The former spokesperson of disbanded pro-democracy party Demosisto was among 14 to receive jail sentences ranging from 36 months to 52 months. A 15th defendant, who was 16 years old when he was arrested, was sentenced to a training centre, an alternative to prison for offenders under the age of 21.
Sitting next to the docket with the other two female defendants, Wong appeared before Deputy District Judge Stephanie Tsui at District Court on Thursday afternoon.
Positive attitude
Tsui said the court had considered Wong’s mitigation plea, which stated that she hoped to study art therapy in the future, and that she had completed a psychology and counselling programme at the CUHK School of Continuing and Professional Studies while in remand. She also previously volunteered at hospitals and non-profits, and held art workshops for children with special education needs.
Although Wong suffers from depression, she had a positive attitude, Tsui added. Wong’s jail sentence started at 54 months, but was reduced to 37, given her guilty plea and volunteer work.
The 15 defendents each faced a single charge of rioting on Nathan Road in Yau Ma Tei on November 18, 2019. Tsui said the protests in which the defendants were involved were “meticulously” coordinated and that some 2,000 protesters were present in the vicinity.
Pro-democracy demonstrators had rallied across different areas in Kowloon that day to show support for protesters involved in a two-week long siege of Hong Kong Polytechnic University.
Yan Nim-yin, now a 19-year-old student, was sentenced to a training centre, where the period of detention ranges from six months to three years, depending on behaviour.
He was among the 10 who pleaded guilty, including Yung Tsz-yan, Chau Yiu-tin, Chung Wing-cheung, So Ho-yin, Suen Ka-ho, Tsang Siu-pang, Wong Hong-yu, and Wong Man-shan. So faced an additional charge of possessing an offensive weapon – a laser pointer – which was kept on file after So pleaded guilty to the rioting charge.
Chung Yiu-hei, Jason Loh, Ng Chung-yin, Tang Kin-fun, and Lee Tsz-chung were convicted after pleading not guilty.
Protests erupted in June 2019 over a since-axed extradition bill. They escalated into sometimes violent displays of dissent against police behaviour, amid calls for democracy and anger over Beijing’s encroachment. Demonstrators demanded an independent probe into police conduct, amnesty for those arrested and a halt to the characterisation of protests as “riots.”
Wong’s bail under national security charge
Separately, Wong Ji-yuet has been charged with conspiring to commit subversion together with 46 other prominent pro-democracy figures over an unofficial primary election ahead of the 2020 legislature election.
After being detained for 10 months while awaiting trial, Wong was granted bail in December 2021 on conditions including that she must not publish, share or forward commentaries, or commit acts that may endanger national security.
She was among the few defendants to be granted bail under the stricter bail thresholds in national security cases. Most have been detained for almost two years before the subversion trial finally began this February.
Bail applications in national security cases have to go through a stricter assessment. Judges consider not only the defendant’s risk of absconding or obstructing justice, but also whether there are sufficient grounds for believing they “will not continue to commit acts endangering national security.”
In June 2020, Beijing inserted national security legislation directly into Hong Kong’s mini-constitution – bypassing the local legislature – following a year of pro-democracy protests and unrest. It criminalised subversion, secession, collusion with foreign forces and terrorist acts, which were broadly defined to include disruption to transport and other infrastructure.
The move gave police sweeping new powers, alarming democrats, civil society groups and trade partners, as such laws have been used broadly to silence and punish dissidents in China. However, the authorities say it has restored stability and peace to the city.
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