Anti-government protesters told to expect jail terms of up to 9 months for joining illegal rally
- The four men are facing charges arising from a confrontation between protesters and officers outside Sham Shui Po police station on the night of August 25, 2019
- Five other defendants were acquitted on the grounds they could have been innocent passers-by
The four men were among eight others and one woman who stood trial at District Court last month over charges arising from a confrontation between protesters and officers outside Sham Shui Po police station on the night of August 25, 2019.
The remaining five defendants were acquitted on the grounds they could have been innocent passers-by.
Thousands of protesters took part in the 2km march from Kwai Chung to Tsuen Wan earlier in the day to protest against police’s handling of anti-government rallies, fuelled by anger over a proposed extradition bill, which the leadership ultimately withdrew.
The approved procession later descended into chaos as demonstrators gathered in various districts at night to block roads and confront police with laser pointers.
The court heard that the illegal gathering in Sham Shui Po started at 8.26pm, when hundreds of protesters paralysed Yen Chow Street and confronted officers outside the police station. Some participants shone laser beams at the building and hurled insults at officers, who had unsuccessfully tried to disperse the crowd with tear gas.
