Hong Kong protests: activist accused of organising illegal march two years ago denied bail
- Max Chung faces five years behind bars if convicted in connection with unauthorised assembly in July 2019
- Nearly 300,000 people said to have attended rally held six days after mob attack at Yuen Long MTR station
A key figure behind a 2019 demonstration held a few days after a mob attack at a Hong Kong railway station has been remanded in custody after being charged with organising and taking part in an unauthorised assembly.
Activist Max Chung Kin-ping, 41, was escorted to Fanling Court on Tuesday, a day after he was rearrested and accused of staging an illegal procession in Yuen Long on July 27, 2019. He faces up to five years in jail if convicted.
The march, which organisers claimed was attended by nearly 300,000 people, took place six days after a large mob launched an indiscriminate attack at Yuen Long MTR station, assaulting protesters and commuters with rattan and wooden sticks. At least 45 people were injured in the attack.
Chung, a public relations consultant, was arrested one day after the event, but was released without charge a month later. Officers rearrested him on Monday afternoon after searching his residence in Yuen Long with a court warrant.
The prosecution asked for a month-long adjournment to prepare for the necessary paperwork to move the case to the District Court for trial.
Principal Magistrate Don So Man-lung threw out Chung’s bail bid after the prosecution objected to his release. He will be taken to court again on September 21.