A MAN arrested for arson and burning a Chinese national flag during last weekend’s protests near the Hong Kong International Airport appeared in court on Saturday and was denied bail.

The 22-year-old man was arrested for setting a Chinese national flag, banners, water-filled barriers and other objects on fire during protests in Tung Chung on Sept. 1.

Charged with criminal damage, conspiracy to desecrate the national flag, conspiracy to commit arson and arson, the man appeared in court at the Kowloon City Magistrates’ Courts of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region on Saturday morning.

The case was adjourned to Nov. 15, pending further investigation, including the examination of the retractable batons and suspected air guns seized at the scene, as well as CCTV footage and the defendant’s public transport card records.

Due to the seriousness of the case, the defendant was denied bail and remanded in custody.

In another development Protesters set fire outside a police station in Hong Kong’s Kowloon area and disrupted the operation of several mass transit railway (MTR) stations in different parts of Hong Kong on Saturday night, leading to police dispersal operations.

Some radical protesters besieged Mong Kok Police Station and aimed laser beams at police officers, forcing the police station’s report room services to be suspended.

They set up barricades, occupied nearby carriageways and caused serious obstruction to the traffic. (Xinhua)