A Hong Kong district court convicted five Chinese University (CUHK) students of rioting and breaching a mask-ban during a protest in 2019.
On Sep. 3, the judge charged five students, aged between 20 to 23, with joint counts of rioting and using face covering during an illegal assembly on Nov. 11, 2019.
Two students—20-year-old Hui Yi-chuen and 21-year-old Foo Hoi-ching—were convicted of an additional count, possession of offensive weapons or tools for unlawful purposes.
The ruling comes two years after students organized massive protests in mid-2019 after the city government announced plans to allow extradition to mainland China. Hongkongers marched against Beijing’s encroachment over local affairs.
Later that night, anti-riot police arrested the five near the CUHK’s Postgraduate Hall, a location close to a bridge where clashes broke out.
One student Cheung ruled of having this intent was Lau Chun-yuk. Lau said in his defense that he was only trapped at the stand-off on that day. He said he had the outfit for months to show his political stance.
Although the West Kowloon Court could not ascertain arrival time, it ruled that Lau could have expected violent acts at the bridge, according to local media.
The judge convicted Foo and Hui of possessing offensive weapons or instruments as the two failed to prove their seized metal hammerhead and a spanner were for schooling purposes.
The five are currently in custody. The court is scheduled to hand down sentences on Oct. 19.
The city also reported fatalities connected to police actions in the continuing pro-democracy movement in 2019. A 22-year-old student died from his injuries after falling one story from a parking garage where police had fired tear gas to disperse protesters in November 2019.
