Hong Kong protests: trio cleared of rioting, but husband and wife guilty of radio offence

Student Natalie Lee, gym owner Tong Wai-hung and his wife Elaine To were first to face riot charges over civil unrest on July 28 last year

Judge stresses his ruling may not truly reflect extent of trio’s participation as it is only based on evidence presented in court and common law principles

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Riot police fire tear gas at protesters on Des Voeux Road West on July 28, 2019. Photo: Edmond So

Published: 10:22am, 24 Jul 2020Updated: 11:20pm, 24 Jul 2020

Hong Kong’s District Court on Friday acquitted the first three defendants to face riot charges over last year’s anti-government protests, with the judge saying it would be inappropriate to place too much reliance on the black outfits and protective gear worn by them when they were arrested.

District judge Anthony Kwok Kai-on also said there was enough evidence to suggest two of the defendants, a married couple, were acting as first-aiders.

Student Natalie Lee Yuen-yui, 17, gym owner Tong Wai-hung, 39, and his wife, Elaine To, 42, had all denied rioting in Sai Wan on July 28 last year, after they were arrested near the site of a protest.

But the couple were found guilty of possession of apparatus for radio communications without a licence, over two walkie-talkies found in their backpacks on the same day, for which they were each fined HK$10,000 (US$1,282).

Tong hugged his wife in a tight embrace as soon as the acquittals were announced, while To and Lee burst into tears.

“I was crying because many people were crying,” To later said. “It was just a relief to hear that we were acquitted.”

Many family members and supporters who watched them in the dock from the public gallery were also heard laughing and breathing sighs of relief.