Hong Kong protests: two men accused of rioting have charges withdrawn
- Construction worker Lau Chun-hing and salesman Cheung Man-wai took part in an authorised march in Kwun Tong on August 24
- Prosecution argued men had drawn suspicion on themselves but magistrate disagreed and also granted legal costs to both
Two Hong Kong men on Friday became the first since the anti-government protests broke out last year to have rioting charges against them withdrawn.
The pair were among 7,165 men and women arrested over the demonstrations that began on June 9 last year, according to official figures as of January 24.
Among them, about 1,120 people have been prosecuted, with 552 of them facing a rioting charge, punishable by 10 years’ imprisonment.
Without giving any reasons, prosecutors on Friday applied to withdraw the charge against construction worker Lau Chun-hing, 33, and salesman Cheung Man-wai, 34.
Both cases relate to a police-approved march in Kwun Tong on August 24 last year, when more than 1,000 people gathered calling for the full withdrawal of the now-shelved extradition bill and demanding an explanation over a plan to set up “smart lamp posts” along roads.
But the peaceful demonstration turned ugly when some deviated from the approved route as protests erupted in surrounding districts, from Kowloon Bay to Ngau Tau Kok and Wong Tai Sin, all the way to Sham Shui Po.