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Hong Kong protests: 12 defendants accused of storming Legislative Council face new riot charges
- More serious offence to be added to trespass charges for defendants including actor Gregory Wong, according to prosecution filing
- Allegations relate to the breaching of Legco by anti-government protesters on July 1 last year, the handover anniversary
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Twelve defendants charged with trespassing in Hong Kong’s legislature during anti-government protests last year will face new counts of rioting when prosecutors apply to step up their allegations on Wednesday, according to sources.
The defendants affected include actor Gregory Wong Chung-yiu, protest organiser Ventus Lau Wing-hong and former student leader Althea Suen.
They were among the protesters accused of storming the Legislative Council on the night of July 1, when unrest broke out as the city marked the anniversary of the 1997 handover from British to Chinese rule.
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The three said on their social media accounts that they learned of the new accusations on Tuesday, a year to the day of the first mass protest triggered by the now-withdrawn extradition bill.
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A year of anti-government protests in Hong Kong
A year of anti-government protests in Hong Kong
The dozen are among 15 protesters accused of illegally entering the Legco chamber. Each of them was previously charged with one count of entering or remaining in precincts of chamber, with two facing additional counts of criminal damage and taking part in an unlawful assembly.
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