Hong Kong protests: two students found guilty of rioting during violent protest at university campus in November 2019

Judge rejects Cheung Chun-ho and Tang Hei-man’s claims they went to scene of clashes at Chinese University’s Sha Tin campus either by error or out of curiosity

They were also found guilty of violating the government’s ban on wearing masks at demonstrations

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Clashes break out between riot police and students at the Chinese University of Hong Kong in Sha Tin on November 12, 2019. Photo: Felix Wong

Published: 10:01pm, 7 Jul 2021Updated: 11:36pm, 7 Jul 2021

Two students charged in relation to a violent demonstration at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) during the social upheaval two years ago have been found guilty of rioting and violating a ban on wearing masks at rallies.

Vocational school student Cheung Chun-ho and CUHK student Tang Hei-man were convicted at the District Court on Wednesday after the judge rejected their defence they went to the front line of the protest either by mistake or out of curiosity.

Two other co-defendants, CUHK student Chan Hey-hang and Polytechnic University student Lee Chun-ho, were acquitted of the charge of rioting due to a lack of evidence, but Chan was found guilty of violating the mask ban.

The three found guilty were remanded in custody pending an array of assessments before sentencing on July 21.

Tear gas swirls amid clashes between riot police and students at Chinese University’s Sha Tin campus on November 12, 2019. Photo: Sam Tsang

The four were the first group of defendants to stand trial over the unrest at CUHK on November 12, 2019, one of the most violent episodes of the protest movement that year.

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