Hong Kong protests: man, 20, admits taking part in illegal demonstration after sedition charge changed to unlawful assembly
- Prosecutors amend sedition charge against Tong Cheuk-him to taking part in an unlawful assembly, which carries higher prison sentence
- Court hears Tong joined an unauthorised march at Chinese University on November 19, 2020.
A 20-year-old jobless man has admitted to taking part in an illegal protest at a university in Hong Kong two years ago, after prosecutors changed the original sedition charge to a public order offence.
While unlawful assembly offences are punishable by up to five years in jail compared with two years for sedition, the latter has a higher threshold for granting bail if the case is considered to involve a threat to national security.
The court heard Tong was pursuing a sports science diploma at VTC Youth College when he joined the unauthorised march at Chinese University on November 19, 2020.
About 100 people heeded online calls to join the demonstration that day at the Sha Tin campus against the varsity’s decision to move graduation ceremonies online, which protesters said had deprived students of the opportunity to express their views.
In a 40-minute procession, participants, some wearing Guy Fawkes masks and graduation gowns, marched from University MTR station to the University Mall, a campus landmark where degrees are conferred during annual convocations.
Cries heard during the demonstration included “Liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our times”, “Hong Kong independence, the only way out” and “Self-strengthening of the nation, independence for Hong Kong”. Such slogans are banned under the Beijing-decreed national security law.
