A man who threw eggs at Hong Kong’s police headquarters during last year’s protests has been sentenced to 21 months in jail.

Pun Ho-Chiu, 31, nicknamed “The Painter,” was convicted of property damage, unauthorised assembly and seven charges of assault on police officers.

"Occupuy Mongkok Painter" Pun Ho-chun
“The Painter” Pun Ho-chun. Photo: Tom Grundy/HKFP.

Pun took part in a demonstration outside the Wan Chai police headquarters in June last year, one of dozens of mass protests against a planned extradition bill.

Magistrate Winnie Lau Yee-wan, who sentenced Pun on Thursday, acknowledged that eggs were not “weapons of mass destruction” and no officers were physically harmed. But she said his actions may have encouraged others to follow suit.

She described the defendant as having played a leading role in the protest and said his actions disrupted public order and safety and had dirtied the premises.

Lau rejected the defence’s questioning of police officers for failing to take photos of the stained riot shields and clothes and failing to record the incidents in police notebooks.

Wan Chai Police Headquarters
Defaced Wan Chai Police Headquarters. Photo: Todd R. Darling/HKFP.

In September, a 26-year-old construction worker was convicted of rioting and common assault in relation to the same protest and was sentenced to four years in jail.

members promo splash

Support HKFP  |  Policies & Ethics  |  Error/typo?  |  Contact Us  |  Newsletter  | Transparency & Annual Report | Apps

Safeguard press freedom; keep HKFP free for all readers by supporting our team

HK$
HK$

Members of HK$150/month unlock 8 benefits: An HKFP deer keyring or tote; exclusive Tim Hamlett columns; feature previews; merch drops/discounts; "behind the scenes" insights; a chance to join newsroom Q&As, early access to our Annual/Transparency Report & all third-party banner ads disabled.

The Trust Project HKFP
Journalist Trust Initiative HKFP
Society of Publishers in Asia
International Press Institute
Oxfam Living Wage Employer
Google Play hkfp
hkfp app Apple
hkfp payment methods
YouTube video
YouTube video

Candice is a reporter at Hong Kong Free Press. She previously worked as a researcher at a local think tank. She has a BSocSc in Politics and International Relations from the University of Manchester and a MSc in International Political Economy from London School of Economics.