PolyU Student Convicted Over New Year's Eve Protest

A Polytechnic University student was on Tuesday convicted of unlawful assembly over a protest in Mong Kok on New Year's Eve last year.

The West Kowloon Court heard that police officers gave chase after dozens of black-clad protesters blocked roads outside Pioneer Centre. The defendant Choi Chung-hei was arrested at the scene, with pliers and spray paint found on him.

The 20-year-old was also found guilty of possessing items with intent to damage property, but was cleared of a charge of possessing an instrument fit for unlawful purposes.

He had pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Magistrate Jeffrey Sze said he found police officers who testified in the trial to be honest and credible.

He added that there's sufficient "environmental evidence" in this case. The magistrate noted that the defendant and other black-clad protesters were blocking roads and disrupting order.

Sze said their actions could have prompted others to use violence, or caused chaos when the police arrived to disperse them.

The magistrate added that Choi, in possession of spray paint, intended to paint graffiti to express his political demands.

In mitigation, the defence said the incident happened during unprecedented times, and many young people like Choi were prompted to join last year's protests due to the political climate at the time.

The defence also noted that Choi's family had been doxxed and harassed.

The student was remanded in custody, awaiting sentencing on January 4.