A Hong Kong court has sentenced veteran democrat Lam Cheuk-ting and six others to jail terms for rioting, following a 2019 incident where they were attacked by a white-shirted mob. The attack occurred on July 21, 2019, at the Yuen Long MTR station, where over 100 men stormed the area, assaulting passers-by and journalists.
Twelve of the attackers were convicted of rioting and conspiring to wound with intent. However, Lam and six others were also arrested, charged, and convicted of rioting and instigating violence. The defendants claimed they acted in self-defense, trying to protect others under attack, but District Court Judge Stanley Chan rejected this argument.
Lam, a 47-year-old Democratic Party member, received a jail sentence, along with the six other defendants. This verdict has sparked concerns about the erosion of democratic freedoms and the rule of law in Hong Kong.