Hong Kong protests: computer technician gets more than 3 years in jail for role in riot where gate of government offices was set on fire
- Incident took place in Sham Shui Po on evening of October 27, 2019
- Cheng Chi-chung had responded to calls to protest against police
A computer technician who was among a group of protesters that set fire to the gate of a government office during a demonstration in 2019 has been jailed for more than three years for rioting.
Cheng Chi-chung pleaded guilty earlier this month in District Court over his role in the unlawful protest outside Cheung Sha Wan Government Offices in Sham Shui Po on the evening of October 27.
Protesters had responded to online calls earlier that day to assemble in a park in the shopping district of Tsim Sha Tsui to express their discontent with police’s handling of the protests that year. The gathering descended into chaos, which later spilled over into various districts in Kowloon.
The court previously heard that the 33-year-old defendant was spotted among a group of 70 protesters outside the government premises at around 7pm.
He was said to have worn an all-black outfit and covered his face with a mask, defying a ban on facial coverings at public gatherings.
Cheng was then seen reaching for his backpack, which was later found to have contained flammable liquid, but it remained unclear what he had done next as the view of police was blocked by a shield of umbrellas.