A designer arrested during the civil unrest that ripped through Hong Kong earlier this week was charged with rioting on Wednesday.

Li Chak-lam was brought to the Kwun Tong Magistrates’ Courts to face one count of rioting, and another count of failure to provide proof of identity, during anti-government protests in Wong Tai Sin on Monday.

The 32-year-old was one of eight defendants who appeared in court, charged with a range of offences in relation to the citywide chaos.

Appearing alongside Li, was property agent So Kwong-tat, 38, who was charged with one count of possession of offensive weapons and one count of criminal damage, while cleaner Ho Eng-leng, 42, made his first appearance at Kowloon City Court, on one count of obstructing a public officer in Sham Shui Po.

Property agent So Kwong-tat leaves the court in Kwun Tong. Photo: Brian Wong More

Protests intensified on Monday as those opposed to the government’s extradition bill surrounded police stations in eight districts in the latest show of defiance, and hurled objects, and at some, set fires. Police fired tear gas in response.

The government has already abandoned the bill, which, if passed, would have allowed it to transfer fugitives in Hong Kong to jurisdictions the city does not have an extradition agreement with, including mainland China.

But that is not enough for protesters, who want it withdrawn altogether and an independent inquiry into the alleged use of excessive force by police.

The escalation in the scale of violence coincided with a citywide strike and acts of civil disobedience that jammed roads, obstructed rail lines, and saw hundreds of flights cancelled at Hong Kong International Airport.

On Wednesday, the court in Kwun Tong heard that Li is accused of taking part in a riot on Lung Cheung Road, a major highway connecting central and east Kowloon. He was further accused of failing to produce his identity card at the police’s request.

Li was allegedly seen throwing a helmet towards police lines, swinging an umbrella, and when tear gas was fired, Li is said to have attempted to throw it back at police.

Standing quietly in the dock as he whispered his answers, Li had patches covering both cheeks and his right elbow bandaged. His barrister, Lawrence Lau Wai-chung, said the injuries occurred when Li was being arrested.

The designer was released on HK$5,000 bail until his next hearing on October 2. He must report to police three times a week, and obey a curfew.

So was intercepted at 8pm on Monday when he walked past Sau Mau Ping Disciplined Services Quarters in Kowloon district. He was found in possession of a black card knife, a silver multifunction knife, and one pair of scissors, the court heard.

He was granted HK$2,000 bail, and has been barred from going within 100 metres of the building in question.

At Kowloon City Magistrates’ Courts, Ho was accused of obstructing police sergeant Fung Yiu-tung at the junction of Cheung Sha Wan Road and Yen Chow Street.

He was granted HK$1,000 bail and ordered to observe a curfew until his next hearing on October 2.

Five others were also charged at Eastern Court with damaging traffic lights in Tsuen Wan on Monday morning.

But only three appeared in court, however, as two others remained in hospital with injuries sustained during their arrests, according to their lawyers.

Self-employed woman Lau Gaai-lei, 32, mechanic Jose Louis Wong Wing-chun, 26, student Sin Tik, 22, and unemployed men Chan Cho-chak, 22, and Lo Wing-hang, 22, were all charged with criminal damage. Lau and Chan also faced an extra count of failing to provide proof of identity.

While Chan and Lau were accused of damaging the green man sign of a pedestrian traffic light at the junction between Yeung Uk Road and Luen Yan Street, Wong, Lo and Sin allegedly vandalised another one that stood between Tai Ho Road and Sha Tsui Road.

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