Hong Kong Ex-lawmaker Lam Cheuk-ting Convicted for Rioting Following 2019 Attack
Former pro-democracy lawmaker Lam Cheuk-ting found guilty of rioting by a Hong Kong court on Thursday, stemming from a harrowing incident in July 2019. Lam was targeted by a violent mob clad in white shirts during the peak of the year’s pro-democracy demonstrations.
The night of July 21, 2019, saw over 100 white-shirted individuals storm the Yuen Long MTR station in the northwestern region of Hong Kong. Armed with clubs and sticks, they unleashed chaos upon unsuspecting commuters and journalists, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake. In 2021, several of these assailants were sentenced for their involvement in the rioting and conspiracy to cause harm.
Lam, a respected figure within the Democratic Party, was apprehended over a year after the brutal attack and faced charges of inciting violence and participating in the riot. Despite his claims of rushing to the scene to offer assistance, Lam himself fell victim to the mob’s aggression, sustaining severe injuries to his head, mouth, arm, and wrist, necessitating nearly 20 stitches.
During the court proceedings, District Judge Stanley Chan expressed skepticism regarding Lam’s motives, suggesting that his presence may have exacerbated tensions rather than diffused them. Lam, who maintained his innocence throughout the trial, remained composed as the verdict was rendered, while his relatives were visibly emotional. Alongside Lam, six others were also convicted in connection to the incident.
Sentencing for the convicted individuals is scheduled for a later date, with rioting carrying a potential maximum sentence of seven years in the district court. These convictions unfold against the backdrop of an ongoing crackdown on dissent in Hong Kong following the 2019 protests. The crackdown has witnessed the incarceration and exile of pro-democracy activists, the shuttering of independent media outlets, and electoral reforms that have marginalized opposition voices.
Critics of the government’s actions, including the United States, have decried the crackdown as an assault on civil liberties. In contrast, Beijing and local authorities contend that the rule of law prevails, pointing to national security legislation enacted since 2020 as a means of restoring stability to the region.
Notably, Lam is currently serving a significant prison term of six years and nine months after being convicted of conspiracy to commit subversion under the national security law imposed by Beijing. The verdict has sparked outrage among supporters, with journalist Galileo Cheng denouncing the decision as unjust and asserting that it undermines the heroic efforts of those who sought to protect innocent bystanders during the violent altercation.
As the repercussions of the 2019 unrest continue to reverberate through Hong Kong’s political landscape, the conviction of Lam Cheuk-ting serves as a stark reminder of the challenges facing advocates of democracy in the region. Amid mounting international scrutiny and internal discord, the pursuit of justice and accountability remains a contentious battleground in the ongoing struggle for
