Hong Kong protests: 5 students found guilty of rioting, violating mask ban at 2019 Chinese University demonstration
- The five students were arrested near the scene of a violent protest where petrol bombs and other objects had been hurled at police officers
- Charge did not require proof they had taken part in the violence, District Court judge rules, only that their presence encouraged others to disturb the peace
Five university students have been convicted of rioting and violating a ban on wearing masks at public gatherings over their roles in a violent confrontation at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) in November 2019.
The violent stand-off on November 11 saw demonstrators cripple the Tolo Highway and the nearby MTR East Rail line by hurling objects from a bridge near the campus entrance. Police dispersed protesters later that day and cordoned off the crossing to prevent further disruptions.
At around 1pm, about 30 black-clad protesters, most of whom had covered their faces with masks, respirators or scarfs, barricaded the road leading to the campus with bricks and miscellaneous objects.
Some of them used a garbage truck as cover to hurl petrol bombs and other objects at police officers, who fired tear gas to disperse the crowd.
Four men – Lau Chun-yuk, 22, Ko Chi-pan, 23, Chan Lik-sik, 19, and Hui Yi-chuen, 21 – were arrested along with 23-year-old woman Foo Hoi-ching an hour later in the vicinity of the university’s Postgraduate Hall, which is located near the bridge.