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Mong Kok riot
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Four police buses ferrying the defendants arrived before 9am. Photo: Edward Wong

37 alleged rioters banned from Mong Kok after appearing in court over Hong Kong Lunar New Year violence

Thirty-seven people appear in court – all but one charged with rioting – as tensions flare outside court as supporters keep them away from media

Thirty-seven people charged in connection with Monday night’s riot in Mong Kok were on Thursday barred from setting foot in parts of the district as tensions flared outside the court.

The 34 male and two female defendants, mostly in their 20s, made their first appearance at Kowloon City Court on Thursday to each face one count of rioting. A 37th defendant was charged with a lesser count of taking part in an unlawful assembly.

The defendants were all granted bail on condition that they would stay away from the area spanning Shanghai, Dundas, Fa Yuen and Argyle streets.

They have not yet been required to make a plea.

Some supporters covered taxi windows and windscreens with clothing to shield the defendants from cameras. Photo: Ernest Kao

The defendants’ departure from court sparked chaotic scenes as their supporters tried to block a large media contingent from approaching or taking pictures of them. Some of them were wearing masks to conceal their identities.

Dozens of supporters – including University of Hong Kong student union president Billy Fung Jing-en – and members of radical activist group Civic Passion, led by Wong Yeung-tat and Cheng Chung-tai, helped escort the defendants into taxis.

Defendants leave after being granted bail. Intense media scrutiny prompted an effort to hide the identities of the accused.

The supporters, claiming they were “protecting” the defendants, supplied them with hoodies, face masks, dark glasses, cardboard boxes and newspapers to hide from media cameras.

In court, the 36 defendants charged with rioting were accused of taking part in the riot with others on February 8 and 9.

Among them were radical group Hong Kong Indigenous spokesman Edward Leung Tin-kei, who is running in the coming Legislative Council by-election, and Stephen Ku Bok-him, editor-to-be of Hong Kong University’s student magazine, Undergrad.

Suspects facing charges connected to the Mong Kok riot arrive at the Kowloon City Magistrates’ Court. Photo: Edward Wong

Female defendant Tam Hiu-tung was originally charged with rioting, but the charge was scaled down yesterday to one of taking part in an illegal assembly.

Leaving court, Leung refused to comment on his election campaign, saying there were more important matters at stake.

Seven of the defendants were students, while almost one third of them were unemployed. The rest listed professions ranging from restaurant workers to property and travel agents.

Some complained to the court that police had used excessive force to arrest them.

Photographers snapping pictures while suspects are escorted to Kowloon City Court. Photo: Edward Wong

Barrister Chris Ng’s client, Chan Yu-kei, appeared with a bandaged head. “He [Chan]was hit on the head with police batons, resulting in blood all over his face,” Ng said.

Others claimed initial admissions they might have made were the result of police beatings and trickery.

Acting chief magistrate Peter Law Tak-chuen said complaints about police misconduct were not for the court to handle, but it would note allegations about forced confessions.

Senior assistant director of public prosecutions David Leung Cheuk-yin SC said the injunction banning the defendants from Mong Kok was for public safety.

He was hit on the head with police batons, resulting in blood all over his face
Accused Chan Yu-kei’s lawyer

Accepting that, Law ordered them to reside at the addresses they provided to him, and they were released on cash bail of HK$500 to HK$20,000.

He adjourned the case to April 7 pending police investigations and legal advice to be sought by prosecutors.

Meanwhile, Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury Chan Ka-keung expressed concern that Hong Kong’s image was being tarnished among international investors.

Chan urged “the few people” responsible to stop expressing their views through violence that was unacceptable to Hong Kong people.

Suspects facing charges over the Mong Kok Riot arrive the Kowloon City Magistrates Court. Photo: Edward Wong

A police spokesman said one more person was arrested on Wednesday over the riot, bringing the total number since Monday night to 65. Three more of them, including a 15-year-old and Scholarism activist Derek Lam Shun-hin, will appear in Kowloon City Court today.

Separately yesterday, police arrested three people in Kwai Chung and seized knives, water pipes, surgical masks, walkie talkies, chemicals and red pepper, but did not confirm a link to the riot.

In a related development, police said on Thursday night an internal investigation had concluded that the officer who fired two shots in the air while being attacked by a mob during the riot was justified in using his weapon.

Investigators ruled the officer had no other option, and his decision to open fire was reasonable, appropriate and in keeping with rules.

Additional reporting by Enoch Yiu

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