Acquitted district councillor Ted Hui Chi-fung bound over despite being cleared by Hong Kong magistrate of assaulting two security guards

A district councillor was yesterday ordered bound over, despite being cleared by a magistrate of assaulting two security guards.

Central and Western District Councillor Ted Hui Chi-fung, 33, had been acquitted by Magistrate Colin Wong Sze-cheung after Wong said he could not rule out that Hui's alleged assault - at the Harbour Building in Central on April 3 last year - might have been caused by others pushing him.

But senior public prosecutor Derek Lai Kim-wah took Hui back to court last week, arguing that the magistrate had failed to consider Hui's recklessness. Lai asked Wong to convict Hui, or, if not, order Hui to be bound over during the last hearing.

Yesterday, Wong affirmed his original verdict, but ordered Hui to sign a good behaviour bond.

Outside court, Hui, a Democratic Party member, accused the Department of Justice of suppressing dissent.

"If I was found not guilty, what are the grounds for having me bound over?" he asked. This comes about a month before the district council election, which Hui will again contest.