On the eve of National Day in 2019, clashes between police and the public resulted in 12 individuals being convicted of rioting. Sentences ranging from 4 to 5 years and 3 months in prison were handed down by the judge, who described the riots as an organized effort to dismantle the Hong Kong government. The 12 defendants were transported to the District Court following a large number of demonstrators marched from Causeway Bay to the Admiralty General Assembly and blocked the road. The judge noted that consideration should be given not only to each individual’s participation but to the overall behavior of the demonstrators, who coordinated in advance and used items such as laser pens, helmets, walkie-talkies, and giant rubber bands. The riots were unscrupulous and ignored police calls to disperse, instead escalating with the use of petrol bombs, bricks, and other destructive means. Although the riot lasted only 26 minutes, it created a small battlefield and impacted nearby facilities, raising safety concerns. The judge ruled that the possession of items like umbrellas, trekking sticks, and cut-resistant gloves to attack and protect themselves disproved claims that the defendants were just creating a disturbance. Sentences of 4 to 5 years and 3 months in prison were handed down to each defendant, starting from a four-month minimum following adjusting for time served. #news
[Now News Channel]On the eve of the National Day in 2019, there were clashes between the police and the general public. 12 people were convicted of rioting and sentenced to 4 to 5 years and 3 months in prison. The judge described the riots as a small battlefield, which was an organized effort to destroy the Hong Kong government. The core of the operation, the intention is obvious.
The 12 defendants were escorted to the District Court by a prison van. The incident occurred on September 29, 2019. A large number of demonstrators marched from Causeway Bay to the Admiralty General Assembly and blocked the road. The defendants were subdued by the police. Convicted following interrogation.
The judge pointed out that the sentencing should not only consider individual participation, but also the overall behavior of the demonstrators. The demonstrators prepared laser pens, helmets, walkie-talkies, and giant rubber bands in advance. The riots did not happen suddenly. Organized; they were unscrupulous, ignored the police to disperse, and threw petrol bombs, bricks, etc. at the police and the Political Council, maliciously and seriously provoking, destroying the Political Council, the core of Hong Kong’s operations, and their intentions are obvious.
Although the riot only lasted regarding 26 minutes, the police warned many times during the period that the demonstrators did not restrain themselves, and the police dispersal would end in a short time, otherwise it would not end and would intensify.
The location of the incident is like a small battlefield. The traffic on Harcourt Road is cut off, and nearby facilities cannot be used. The vandalism of the demonstrators has caused people to worry regarding their personal safety.
Considering that the defendants possessed items such as umbrellas, trekking sticks, and cut-resistant gloves to attack and protect themselves, saying that they were just making a big noise and having a low level of participation was out of touch with reality and deceiving themselves. Four months is the starting point for sentencing, and each defendant is sentenced to 4 to 5 years and 3 months in prison following deducting the sentence.
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The severity of the riots that occurred on the eve of the National Day in 2019 cannot be overstated. As reported, it was an organized effort to destroy the Hong Kong government, and the 12 individuals convicted of rioting faced the consequences for their actions. The judge’s ruling highlighted that the demonstrators were unscrupulous in their approach, ignored warnings to disperse, and used harmful objects to provoke and attack the police. The incident left people concerned regarding their personal safety, with the location turning into a small battlefield. As we reflect on this incident, it is essential to recognize the importance of peaceful protests and the repercussions of resorting to violence.