Tony Chung Convicted Of Desecrating National Flag

Teenage activist Tony Chung has been found guilty of desecrating the national flag and unlawful assembly during a confrontation between rival groups at the Legco protest area in May last year.

The 19-year-old appeared calm as he heard the verdict at Eastern Court, shouting "Hongkongers, hold on!" as he was escorted away from the courtroom packed with supporters.

The court heard that scuffles broke out between pro-government and pro-democracy demonstrators on May 14, 2019, as lawmakers vetted the now-scrapped extradition bill.

The former leader of the pro-independence group Studentlocalism was said to have snatched a national flag from government supporters, detaching it from its pole.

On Friday, magistrate Peony Wong refused to accept Chung's defence that he did not know the cloth was a national flag, saying it was impossible for him not to see the bright-coloured stars on the flag which was being waved quite high.

The defence had argued that someone had waved a red cloth close to him, and he moved it away from his face.

The magistrate also rejected defence claims that Chung threw the cloth and the flagpole away for fear they would be used as weapons.

Wong added that the snatching of the flag had disrupted order in a public place.

Chung faces a maximum sentence of three years in jail.

Sentencing was adjourned to December 29 while he remains in custody ahead of his national security trial.