Hong Kong democracy activist Joshua Wong ordered to pay HK$8,000 legal fees after losing compensation claim
Student activist was seeking HK$45,000 for alleged assault and unlawful detention after he claimed he had been forcefully handcuffed by police without being formally arrested during a protest last year
Hong Kong democracy activist Joshua Wong Chi-fung was on Wednesday ordered to pay the secretary for justice more than HK$8,000 (US$1,020) in legal fees after a court dismissed his financial claim for alleged assault and unlawful detention.
But the university student remained defiant as he vowed to appeal the case to the High Court, in the hope that a judge would clarify the legal basis for police handcuffing him without arrest during a protest last year.
The Small Claims Tribunal case centred on a protest ahead of the city’s annual anti-government rally on July 1, when Wong and a group of 30 pro-democracy activists were on their way to a flag-raising ceremony in Wan Chai, near where President Xi Jinping would deliver a speech.
I was dragged and yanked into a police car by officers using violent force
As his group was met by a larger gang of some 100 pro-Beijing counter-protesters, clashes ensued despite police warnings and attempts to separate the crowds.
The court heard that officers then decided to remove the smaller group of protesters from the scene to protect their safety, restore order and prevent further escalation.
“I was dragged and yanked into a police car by officers using violent force,” said Wong, who demanded HK$45,000 (US$5,700) in compensation.
