Hong Kong police officers ‘shocked’ only 1 in ‘Dragon Slaying’ plot found guilty by jury

Junior Police Officers’ Association chairman says acquittal of six defendants could lead to misconceptions about criminal liability

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Anti-government protesters barricade a road in December 2019. Photo: Sam Tsang

Published: 9:58pm, 1 Sep 2024Updated: 4:12pm, 2 Sep 2024

Hong Kong police were largely “shocked” that only one defendant among seven was found guilty by a jury over a thwarted bomb plot to kill officers, a union chief said on Sunday.

Lam Chi-wai, chairman of the Junior Police Officers’ Association, said the acquittal of six defendants in the “Dragon Slaying Brigade” case could lead to misconceptions about one’s criminal liability.

“Seven defendants had already pleaded guilty in the case, guns and explosives were found and there was a complete plan,” he said in a television interview.

“With this judgment, I am worried that most residents, especially young people, could have a misconception that the move does not necessarily come with any criminal liabilities.”

Fourteen people were charged for allegedly plotting to detonate explosives and kill police officers on Hennessy Road in Wan Chai in December 2019, at the height of the anti-government protests.

Lam Chi-wai (centre) says officers generally “feel safer” following the passage of the city’s domestic national security law. Photo: Dickson Lee

Only one was found guilty by a High Court jury on Thursday among seven defendants who had pleaded not guilty.