OF the 45 people charged with rioting, assaulting police officer and possession of offensive weapons after a recent illegal assembly in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, 44 of them appeared in court yesterday. The defendants were taken before the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts in Hong Kong. The court granted bail to all 44 defendants and issued an arrest warrant for one defendant, who did not show up in court. The illegal assembly was held in the Western District on Hong Kong Island on Sunday, during which the protesters demolished roadside fences and damaged street signs and lampposts, and also attacked police officers with lethal weapons such as bricks and sharpened iron rods, according to the Hong Kong police force. Although the police repeatedly asked the protesters who charged the police cordon lines to leave the illegal assembly immediately, the protesters continued to perform various peace-breaching acts and attacked police officers. After repeated warnings were ignored, the police took dispersal actions at around 7 p.m. Sunday to restore social order, during which the police arrested 49 people including 32 men and 17 women, aged between 16 and 41. After investigation and seeking legal advice, the police charged 44 people for rioting. Among them, a 33-year-old man was also charged with assaulting police officer. Separately, a 24-year-old man was charged with possession of offensive weapons. The cases were adjourned to Sept. 25. Also, Chief Executive Carrie Lam on Tuesday appealed for the whole society to have confidence in Hong Kong, saying the HKSAR Government will introduce measures to cope with economic risks. Lam hosted a luncheon for representatives of international and local chambers of commerce Tuesday at the Government House on Hong Kong’s challenges and opportunities with a view to formulating policy measures that would better meet the needs of the business community in the upcoming policy address. Lam said the disputes in society in recent months are not conducive to Hong Kong’s continued development and that she would spare no efforts to deal with them. (Xinhua) |