Exclusive: 2 protesters told to pay up to HK$1.7m each to cover police officers’ injury-related costs from 2019 demo

Two protesters jailed for rioting in a Hong Kong shopping mall in July 2019 have been ordered to pay up to HK$1.7 million each in damages to cover the injury-related costs of two police officers.

Leung Pak-tim and another protester – who served time in prison over their involvement in a protest in New Town Plaza, in Sha Tin, on July 14, 2019 – recently received letters from the Department of Justice (DoJ) demanding money to cover paid sick leave and other expenses for two officers deployed to the demonstration.

The DoJ said it was representing the police chief in making the demand.

The letters, dated May 13, came almost five years after the pair were arrested in July and September 2019, and weeks before the fifth anniversary of the protests beginning.

Leung and the other protester – who asked to stay anonymous – pleaded guilty to rioting at the shopping mall that night, when violent clashes broke out between protesters and police. There were multiple reports of injuries to protesters, police officers and journalists, with photos of blood-stained floors going viral.

Leung, who was sentenced to four months in jail in September 2020, completed his jail term last April and now works part-time in a restaurant and teaches art. He was ordered to pay HK$1,725,268.47.

The amount was said to cover costs for detective Cheung Lik-hang and senior detective Kwok Siu-hang. The sum includes 336 days of paid sick leave taken by Cheung, 42 days of Kwok’s paid time off, compensation for Kwok’s permanent loss of working ability, and legal fees.

He told HKFP he had no means to make the payment and that he was “waiting to be declared bankrupt.”

The other protester was told to pay HK$1,618,522.48 for Cheung’s 336 days of paid sick leave and legal fees, among other costs associated with Cheung, according to a letter seen by HKFP.

They were given government demand notes and fourteen days to pay the sums.

HKFP asked the police whether it had instructed the DoJ to make the demands, and what positions the two officers now hold in the force. Police in response said they would not comment as there were ongoing legal proceedings.

The DoJ said it does not comment on individual cases.

Over 10,000 protest-related arrests

The protestors received their demands in the weeks leading up to June 9, widely considered the anniversary of the protests and unrest of 2019.

That summer, a controversial extradition bill that would have allowed the transfer of criminal suspects to mainland China triggered widespread opposition to the Hong Kong and Beijing authorities. Peaceful marches – many green-lit by the authorities – often devolved into clashes between protesters and police by nightfall.

Police arrested 10,279 people in connection with the protests. As of the end of last year, less than 30 per cent – or 2,937 people – have been charged with offences including rioting, criminal damage and taking part in an unlawful assembly.

Lawmakers have urged authorities to speed up the handling of the cases, with over 7,000 people still awaiting legal proceedings.

During the sentencing hearing in 2020, judge Amanda Woodcock said although the riot had not lasted long, the defendants were masked and had the intention of injuring the police officers on duty, InMedia reported. The officers were not only hurt in the incident, but also suffered setbacks in their career in the police force as the effect of their injuries was hard to foresee, Woodcock added.

The court heard that detective Cheung suffered injuries to his eyes and nose, and needed two operations. He was on sick leave from the day of the incident until March 2020, and again from June to September 2020 due to a wound inflammation.

Senior detective Kwok suffered injuries including to his head, foot and back, according to InMedia.

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