Couple, Teenager Cleared Of Rioting In Sheung Wan

A student, and a couple who own a gym, have been cleared of rioting in Sheung Wan during last year's anti-government protests.

Natalie Lee, 17; Elaine To, 42; and Tong Wai-hung, 39, were arrested during clashes on Des Voeux Road West on July 28 last year.

District Court judge, Anthony Kwok, also cleared them of illegal assembly.

In his verdict, Kwok said the trio's attire and actions that day were very suspicious. But he said the prosecution relied entirely on circumstantial evidence, unlike in rioting cases the courts had dealt with before.

The judge ruled that the prosecution could not prove that the couple were actually on Des Voeux Road West, where the clashes took place that day, and that the teenager could be just an onlooker.

He said the court had to adopt long-standing principles including the presumption of innocence.

To and Tong, however, were convicted of possession of walkie-talkies without a licence, and are fined HK$10,000 each.

Dozens of supporters of the accused had turned up at the court, and applause and sighs of relief were heard in the courtroom as the verdict was read out.