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Hong Kong pair admit to rioting and vandalising government property during clash with police four years ago

  • Tam Pak-hei, 22, pleads guilty to hurling bricks and objects at officers in Mong Kok in 2016
  • Wong Kwok-pan, 24, admits to illegally removing a signpost from a pavement and damaging the walkway

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Masked protesters clash with police in Mong Kok during the three-day Lunar New Year holiday in 2016. Photo: Edward Wong

Two men are facing up to seven years in prison after pleading guilty to rioting and vandalising government property during violent clashes between protesters and police in one of Hong Kong’s busiest districts four years ago.

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Tam Pak-hei, 22, admitted to hurling bricks and objects at officers in Mong Kok on the morning of February 9, 2016, the District Court heard on Monday.

Co-defendant Wong Kwok-pan, 24, also pleaded guilty to illegally removing a signpost from a pavement that morning, as well as whacking a walkway with a brick to dig up more bricks to be used against police.

The pair were among hundreds of masked protesters who took part in the overnight unrest on February 8, the first day of Lunar New Year.

Chan Shun-yiu is accused of arson. Photo: Brian Wong
Chan Shun-yiu is accused of arson. Photo: Brian Wong
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Prosecutors said a riot broke out on Soy Street at 6am on February 9, when more than 20 masked protesters threw bricks and objects at police, who attempted to disperse the crowd using pepper spray.

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