Hong Kong garage mechanic jailed for 4½ years for role in 2019 attack on protesters, commuters at Yuen Long MTR station
- Tang Siu-hung, 42, is ninth person associated with white-clad mob to be punished after pleading guilty to rioting and wounding with intent
- More than 100 white-clad men stormed Yuen Long MTR station in 2019, wielding iron poles and rattan sticks, leaving at least 45 people injured
Tang Siu-hung, 42, received four years and seven months in jail at the District Court on Thursday for his “extensive” involvement in the 27-minute rampage at Yuen Long station on July 21, 2019.
Tang pleaded guilty to rioting and wounding with intent last month after video footage captured him intimidating and assaulting MTR passengers.
Deputy Judge Daniel Tang Siu-hung said the accused spearheaded the attack as he encouraged his accomplices to chase after their victims.
Deputy Judge Tang stressed the court would not condone vigilantism even if the offender genuinely believed in the legitimacy of his conduct.
He also highlighted the defence’s failure to show the defendant had turned over a new leaf after nearly five years.
The judge set a starting point of seven years’ imprisonment, the longest prison term that can be issued in the District Court, before granting Tang a one-third discount in recognition of his guilty plea.
The deputy judge also agreed to knock a month off the total term for his voluntary community work a decade ago.
But a defence request to further reduce the sentence for a perceived delay in Tang’s prosecution was rejected.
Hong Kong’s first sentence for non-white-clad rioter in 2019 MTR station battle
More than 100 white-clad men stormed the station wielding iron poles and rattan sticks, leaving at least 45 people injured. They claimed the move was to protect their homes from “invading” protesters.
Tang was seen intimidating the black-clad group – the theme colour of demonstrators – soon after entering Yuen Long station at 10.48pm.
He assaulted two men, called on his accomplices to charge into the station’s paid area and issued verbal threats to his victims before leaving at 11.15pm.
Ex-lawmaker denies allegation he tried instigating clashes with mob in 2019
Police identified the accused in late 2022 and arrested him at his residence in July the following year.
Black pants seized from his home were subsequently identified as the ones he wore during the attack.
Eight men who were among the white-shirted were previously jailed for 3½ to seven years for their roles in the attack, while another was acquitted due to insufficient evidence.
Police have also charged eight men associated with the black-clad group, including former opposition lawmaker Lam Cheuk-ting, who was injured during the incident.
The trial of Lam and six others is still ongoing.
