HK police charge 44 over rioting

Hong Kong Police have charged 44 people for rioting as of Tuesday, following an illegal assembly held in Western District on Hong Kong Island on July 28.

Among them, a 33-year-old man was also charged with assaulting a police officer.

Separately, a 24-year-old man was charged with the possession of offensive weapons. All of them will appear in the Eastern Magistrates' Court on Wednesday.

In a statement issued Tuesday night, the police stressed that an active investigation is underway and will not rule out the possibility of further arrests.

The police arrested a total of 49 people comprising 32 men and 17 women, aged between 16 and 41. Two men were released on bail pending further investigation, while another two people were temporarily released.

The law enforcement action was taken after an illegal assembly was held in Western District on Hong Kong Island on July 28, during which radical protesters blocked roads along Connaught Road West and Des Voeux Road West near Western Street. 

They set up roadblocks using umbrellas, wooden planks, bamboo sticks and railings; pried up pavement bricks; demolished roadside fences; damaged street signs and lampposts as well as attacked police officers at the scene with lethal weapons, such as bricks and sharpened iron rods.

Although the police had repeatedly warned the protesters who charged the police cordon lines to leave immediately and that they were participating in an illegal assembly, the protesters refused to leave and continued to perform various acts that disturbed the peace and also attacked police officers.

After repeated warnings were ignored, the police took action to disperse them at about 7 pm on Sunday to restore social order.

The case has been followed up by the Crime Headquarters of Hong Kong Island.