A Hong Kong student has been sentenced to a training centre for rioting during the 2019 protests after the judge said he became swayed by the social atmosphere and other people.
Wong Tak-chun, who was 16 at the time and is now 19, appeared before Deputy District Judge David Cheung for sentencing on Thursday.
Wong, who is now pursuing an associate degree at the City University of Hong Kong, had pleaded guilty to taking part in a riot with others near Queensway in Admiralty on September 29, 2019.
On that day, pro-democracy protesters called for an unauthorised “global anti-totalitarianism” rally and violent clashes broke out between demonstrators and police.
At a previous hearing, seven co-defendants of Wong aged between 21 and 28 were jailed for up to three years. The judge then asked for a report about Wong’s suitability for a training centre – an alternative to imprisonment for offenders aged under 20.
Umbrella formation
Judge Cheung said the incident was a serious case of rioting as at least 500 protesters had gathered outside the Central Government Complex. There was a high degree of violence as protesters blocked traffic in a core political and commercial district, and hurled bricks, rocks and petrol bombs at the buildings.
Cheung said the protesters’ actions posed an “extremely large danger and threat” to public order and people’s personal safety, as well as “incalculable economic loss” to nearby businesses.
The judge said the evidence showed that Wong had crouched down together with other protesters behind a formation of umbrellas with a brick in his hand. While he did not commit any offensive acts, he “clearly came prepared” as he was wearing a gas mask to block tear gas.
Cheung said the umbrella formation was not for defensive purposes only.
“Without these people building a formation of umbrellas at the frontline for protection, protesters would not have been able to resist the police’s dispersion efforts. The umbrella formations… allowed other demonstrators to attack officers with projectiles under protection,” Cheung said.
The judge ruled that Wong took part in the riot by assisting and encouraging others with his presence. Had he been an adult at the time, he would have set the starting point for the sentence at four years or more.
However, he said a training centre was suitable as the defendant was only 16 at the time.
“It was easy [for Wong] to be affected by the social atmosphere at that time and other people. As a result, he lost his ability of judgement and underestimated the legal consequences, thus becoming an offender in this case,” Cheung said, adding that he had “bravely” faced the consequences by pleading guilty.
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