Ng Chi-hung, 28, and Wong Chun-keung, 26, were sentenced to nearly 24 years and 13-and-a-half years behind bars, respectively, for their roles in a thwarted bomb plot aimed at targeting police officers during protests in Hong Kong in 2019. The duo appeared at Hong Kong’s High Court along with five others to face sentencing over the planned attack, which aimed to create chaos and undermine the Hong Kong government.
Ng was described by the presiding Judge Judianna Barnes as the “mastermind and the architect” of the scheme, setting a starting point of 28 years for the UN bombing charge, which was reduced to 23 years and 10 months due to his guilty plea. Additionally, Ng received a 14-year and 4-month jail term for possession of arms or ammunition with intent to endanger life. On the other hand, Wong, the leader of the radical group “Dragon Slayers,” was responsible for assembling members to carry out the plan, although he had not handled firearms or ammunitions. Wong pleaded guilty before trial and testified for the prosecution, resulting in a 50% discount to his 13-year and six-month sentence for the two charges against him.
In the same hearing, five others involved in the bomb plot received jail terms ranging from five years and 10 months to 12 years. Gunman David Su, 23, who planned to fire at police officers from a nearby building after the bomb detonation, was sentenced to 12 years for conspiracy to commit murder. Eddie Pang, a member of Ng’s radical group, received a 10-year jail term for the UN bombing charge. Other defendants involved in the making and possession of bombs and firearms also received jail sentences.
The sentencing marked the first prosecution under the UN anti-terrorism ordinance, nearly five years after the plan was foiled. Prosecutors revealed that the defendants intended to set off two bombs along Hennessy Road in Wan Chai during a lawful rally on December 8, 2019, International Human Rights Day. Steve Li, chief superintendent of the police’s national security department, highlighted that Ng’s sentence was the most severe among all convictions related to the 2019 protests and unrest in Hong Kong.
Li did not dismiss the possibility of authorities appealing the sentencing in the case and suggested the use of national security laws to address similar incidents in the future. Despite the acquittal of six defendants, Li emphasized the importance of upholding the rule of law and ensuring the safety and security of Hong Kong’s residents. The protests that began in June 2019 over an extradition bill have since evolved into broader calls for democracy and accountability, with demonstrators demanding an independent investigation into police conduct and amnesty for those arrested. The ongoing unrest reflects the deep-seated tensions and grievances within Hong Kong society, highlighting the need for a peaceful resolution and dialogue to address the underlying issues.