The localist walked alongside fellow Hong Kong Indigenous member Ray Wong Toi-yeung, who faces other charges. The trial has been scheduled for January 18 next year.

Another co-defendant, Lam Ngo-hin, faces an additional count of taking part in an unlawful assembly, according to lawyers who attended a closed-door pre-trial session on Saturday.

As of Saturday, Leung, Wong, Lam and five others faced a combined total of 10 charges ranging from rioting to incitement.

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The other five defendants are Lam Lun-hing, Lee Nok-man, Li Tung-sing, Lo Kin-man, and Wong Ka-kui.

Leung is to face one joint count with Wong of inciting others to riot, two joint counts of rioting with Wong and others, and the new count of assaulting a police officer.

For his part, Wong faces one charge of inciting others to take part in an unlawful assembly alone, apart from the joint incitement charge, and, with Leung, one count of rioting.

The riot charge carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in jail, according to the Public Order Ordinance.

The defendants were expected to return to court on December 9 for another pre-trial session.

Meanwhile, at the University of Hong Kong, the justice minister took a tough question at a forum for secondary students which elicited applause from many attendees and an awkward smile from Yuen.

They were initially spared imprisonment, but were jailed after justice department lawyers appealed, arguing the lower court had been too lenient in its sentencing.

Aside from denying Beijing’s involvement, Yuen said he had not commented directly on the matter, claiming he had to consider the importance of keeping his discussions with colleagues confidential.