Hong Kong's top court quashes public order convictions of MTR protesters

The top court has unanimously overturned the public order convictions of two social activists for disrupting a government minister's speech to protest against higher train fares.

However, a legal academic does not believe the judgment will open the floodgates to more radical demonstrations. He felt it affirmed the authority of the police to recommend that magistrates impose a good behaviour bond on protesters whose breach of the peace is not a criminal offence.

Such people will not be charged with an offence if the police deal with them using a binding-over order.

In the Court of Final Appeal yesterday, Mr Justice Patrick Chan Siu-oi noted that Hongkongers had a fundamental right to air grievances and to express views on matters of public interest in a free and democratic society.

But Chan added: "Violent or unlawful means cannot justify an end, however noble."

In April 2011, Chow Nok-hang and Wong Hin-wai rushed onto the stage as Eva Cheng, then secretary for housing and transport, was speaking at a prize-giving ceremony for an MTR Corporation charity race-walking event.

Chow scattered "hell money" - traditional paper offerings for the dead - while Wong, of the League of Social Democrats, snatched Cheng's microphone. They were charged under the Public Order Ordinance with behaving in a disorderly manner in a public place.