Hong Kong protests: 11 convicted of rioting in trial related to violent clashes near PolyU campus

Eleven protesters have been convicted of rioting in a trial related to violent clashes in the vicinity of Polytechnic University’s campus during the height of the 2019 social unrest in Hong Kong.

Deputy District Judge Ivy Chui Yee-mei in a judgment on Saturday said the 11 men, who were dressed similarly to protesters, had no reason to be at the site of the late-night unrest near the Yau Ma Tei MTR station, other than having an intention to participate in the riot.

“The court believed that unless there were special reasons, such as living at the site of the incident or work needs, and given the tense and unstable societal environment at that time, a normal, law-abiding ordinary person would not choose to head to the site of the incident at such late hours,” Chui said in her written judgment.

Among the group, teacher Cheng Ho-lun, 28, and automotive technician Fung Tin-ching, 24, were also convicted of one count of possessing articles with intent to destroy or damage property after bringing zip ties to clashes in Yau Ma Tei on November 18, 2019.

Chui said the use of zip ties on obstacles that blocked streets at the protest site had caused disruptions to road usage, which made it impossible for residents or drivers to get through.

“Even if zip ties were not items that could damage or destroy [property] on their own, they were an indispensable tool for the scenario of damage. Even if the damage is temporary, not permanent, obstacles formed from pieces of debris tied together by zip ties indisputably obstructed traffic and social operations,” Chui wrote.

Chui noted that the damage included the blockage of roads by obstacles constructed from bits of debris joined together with zip ties, as well as metal gates tied with the item at MTR station exits. She said these actions had damaged public property and incurred additional clean-up costs.