Man Jailed For 45 Months For Rioting In Wong Tai Sin

A packaging designer was on Monday sentenced to 45 months in prison after pleading guilty to rioting in Wong Tai Sin in 2019.

The court heard that Li Chak-lam, who's in his 30s, had thrown objects such as helmets and tear gas canisters towards a police cordon on Lung Cheung Road on August 5, 2019.

In sentencing, District Court judge Stanley Chan said the defendant was arrested at the scene and the evidence against him was solid.

Chan said Li's actions had been premeditated as he had worn a mask, a helmet and gloves at the time of the offence.

He said while there was no evidence to suggest that Li had planned or incited others to join the riot, the defendant had, to a certain extent, adopted a leadership role as he was on the front line, facing off against the police.

But the judge said he believed Li was remorseful.

After considering Li’s guilty plea and his clean criminal record, the judge reduced the sentence to three years and nine months, from a starting point of five and a half years.