Charges have been dropped against another person accused of rioting during the protests that broke out in Mong Kok over Chinese New Year.
Thirty-four defendants – including Edward Leung Tin-kei and Ray Wong Toi-yeung of political group Hong Kong Indigenous – appeared before Kowloon Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday morning to answer charges of rioting.
The charges related to violent clashes that broke out in February between police and protesters angered over the government’s clearing of street hawkers.
Li Pui-ho, 20, was the latest to have charges against him withdrawn. Earlier, riot charges were dropped against 10 defendants, including Demosistō member Derek Lam Shun-hin, bringing the total number of people charged with rioting to 40, Ming Pao reported.
The prosecution asked the court to adjourn the remaining 33 cases, saying that they needed time to go through the evidence, which includes 35 hours of video footage, 46 hours of videos downloaded from the internet, and 10,186 hours worth of CCTV footage, Stand News reported.
According to the prosecution, as of April 26 a total of 80 people have been arrested in relation to the incident. The police have met with 214 officers and witnesses, and taken 486 witness statements.
The prosecution is now awaiting further legal advice from the Department of Justice.
Magistrate Peter Law allowed the prosecution’s request and adjourned the hearing to June 28. The defendants will continue to be released on bail in the meantime.
