A University of Hong Kong undergraduate who was charged when found carrying three knives during the “Fishball Revolution” was acquitted yesterday, reports Apple Daily.
Ng Cheuk-hung, 18, was arrested on Feb. 9, a day after the Mong Kok civil unrest began, on Nathan Road. He was found to be in possession of a Swiss army knife, folding pliers and a folding knife – a pretty sharp armoury for one teenager.
He was freed of one charge of possessing an offensive weapon.
Three witnesses were summoned, who said that they had seen Ng use the knives for multiple non-violent purposes on different occasions – including cutting meat, cutting open a cake, and fixing a wheel on a trolley. Pretty solid reasons for having multiple knives on you, if you ask us.
Ng reportedly said in court that he had been carrying a Swiss army knife ever since his family was threatened by an uncle three years ago.
The student added that, as the chair of the HKU History Society, he was there to record what was unfolding at the riots.
The magistrate considered Ng’s explanation about his uncle to be a reasonable one, and also stated that this doesn’t prove Ng had the intention to cause harm with it, according to the paper. He added that the police also confirmed the knives were all folded up when Ng was found with them.
