Hong Kong reporter soaked in Songkran assault case would not have made police report, court told
- Three men accused of assaulting three auxiliary police constables and two journalists by attacking them with water guns at Thai new year festival in 2023
A television news reporter allegedly assaulted by being soaked with water guns during a Thai new year celebration in Hong Kong would not have given a statement to police about the incident had he not been told to do so, a court heard on Friday.
Li, who was testifying for the prosecution, said he did not file a report with police but was nonetheless interviewed by them and asked to help secure the convictions of the three men, after the force launched an investigation into alleged disruption to public order.
Songkran marks the Thai New Year, and the old practice of pouring water to wash away sins and bad luck has evolved into mass water fights on the streets. The event returned to Kowloon City, home to hundreds of Thai people, in 2023 after the Covid-19 pandemic put celebrations on hold for three years.
The three suspects – taxi driver Tsang Wai-shing, 26, clerk Ip Ka-kin, 27, and adult products retailer Yuen Tsz-kin, 31 – face three counts of assaulting a police constable and two of common assault for allegedly using water guns to attack three auxiliary constables and the two journalists, Li and Ng Ka-hin.
