Joe Yeung Yat-long, a former auxiliary policeman and president-elect of the Student Union of Hong Kong Shue Yan University, walks out of the Eastern Law Courts Building after being granted bail on Wednesday. Provided to China Daily

Prominent student union activist among alleged arson conspirators

Five men have been charged with conspiracy to commit arson over a small blast outside the legislature earlier this month. Three of the accused attend local universities - with one a student union president-elect.

The five, aged 18-24, will appear in court on Feb 3, while a sixth man arrested in connection with the blast, aged 22 and allegedly enrolled at Hong Kong Shue Yan University (HKSYU), was released on bail without charge. He has to report to police in January.

None of the five suspects entered pleas at their first appearance at the Eastern Magistrates' Court on Wednesday morning, with bail set at HK$10,000 to HK$50,000.

Conspiracy to commit arson carries a maximum penalty of life in prison.

Magistrate Jason Wan Siu-ming gave the five a stern warning, noting they would be held in custody for months before their trial if any of them breached bail conditions.

The suspects have to report to police three times a week and avoid the Legislative Council Complex grounds. They are also barred from leaving the city or living away from home.

The prosecution intends to present CCTV, fingerprint and chemical forensic evidence to buttress its case.

Among the five is Joe Yeung Yat-long, also 22, a former auxiliary policeman who quit his post to join in last year's illegal "Occupy Central" protests.

Yeung is also the president-elect of the Student Union of HKSYU and his arrest comes as institutions of higher learning come to grips with increasingly radicalized student union leaders.

Two others are reportedly members of "pro-Hong Kong independence" group Valiant Frontier, which had rallied online against the copyright bill.

The six were arrested days after the Dec 9 blast in a bin outside LegCo. No one was injured in the blast.

The incident came hours after a debate about the contentious copyright bill. This was adjourned because not enough legislators had turned up.

tim@chinadailyhk.com

(HK Edition 12/24/2015 page7)