Hong Kong protests: social worker joined riot by shouting ‘provocative statements’ through microphone and urging police to calm down, court hears

Prosecutors open case against Jackie Chen, 42, and seven others after they all deny rioting in Wan Chai in August last year

Chen used provocative language, calling on officers to calm down while protesters hurled bricks and petrol bombs at them, prosecutor says

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Social worker Jackie Chen outside the District Court in Wan Chai. Photo: Xiaomei Chen

Published: 10:57pm, 8 Sep 2020Updated: 11:57pm, 8 Sep 2020

A Hong Kong social worker took part in a riot by shouting provocative language through a microphone and calling for police to calm down during an anti-government protest in August last year, a court heard on Tuesday.

Prosecutors opened their case against Jackie Chen Hung-sau, 42, and seven others after they all denied rioting in Wan Chai on August 31, 2019.

The District Court case originally centred on clashes in the Southorn Playground area on Hennessy Road, but it was later modified to cover the junction of Hennessy Road and Luard Road plus the surrounding area after prosecutors amended the charge on the first day of the 17-day trial.

Prosecutor Adonis Cheung Kam-wing said the case began at about 5.56pm when a large number of black-clad individuals – some wielding umbrellas – disobeyed traffic rules, obstructed vehicles and set up roadblocks on Hennessy Road.

Protesters had set a roadblock in Wan Chai on fire on August 31 last year. Photo: Sam Tsang

The situation gradually escalated as those assembled flashed laser beams and set the roadblock on fire at about 7.10pm.

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