A 22-year-old man has been formally charged with stabbing a student in the neck and stomach as he was handing out protest-related fliers in Tai Po on Saturday.

Headline Daily reports that defendant Liu Guosheng was charged with one count of wounding with intent at Fanling Magistrates’ Court this afternoon.

The prosecution told the court that police still needed to take a witness statement from the victim, a 19-year-old student surnamed Hung, who is currently recovering in the Prince of Wales’ Hospital intensive care unit following surgery over the weekend.

The outlet reported that Liu gave his occupation as chef, and lives in Bobai county, Guangxi. The court heard that Liu arrived in Hong Kong on a two-way permit on October 18.

The case was adjourned until December 18, and Liu will be remanded in custody.

The prosecution said that Liu was in a tunnel leading to Tai Po Market MTR station at around 5pm. Since so-called “Lennon Walls” began cropping up all over town, the tunnel has become known as the “Lennon Tunnel” due to the sheer volume of Post-It notes in support of the city’s protest movement covering its walls.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B2qFTu7jK2K/

While in the tunnel, Liu reportedly got into an argument with a group of people over the recent protests, then left the scene, only to allegedly return shortly thereafter with a 20-centimeter knife, with which he is accused of stabbing Hung in the abdomen and the back of the neck.

Hung had been handing out fliers inside the tunnel encouraging people to join the protest in Tsim Sha Tsui on Sunday.

Images circulating in local media show Hung was severely injured, with his internal organs visible where his abdomen had been cut.

Liu handed himself in to Tai Po police station at about 6pm on the same day.

Grove: Coconuts Brand Studio

Fast. Funny. Digital. We produce creativity that delights and influences customers. Join forces with us to slay buzzwords, rise above the noise, and sow the seeds of something great.