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Brian Wong

A Hong Kong court has ordered the confiscation of more than HK$674,000 (US$86,000) seized from three defendants in a landmark terrorism trial, finding the funds were raised to finance a plot to kill police during the 2019 anti-government protests.
The High Court on Monday declared the money raised by the “Dragon Slaying Brigade” constituted terrorist property under the United Nations (Anti-Terrorism Measures) Ordinance, the first such order since the law came into effect in 2002.
Team leader Wong Chun-keung, mastermind Ng Chi-hung, and co-defendant Lau Pui-ying – who was among six people acquitted at trial – did not object and were absent from the hearing.
The order was made 1½ years after the court handed down jail sentences to seven of 14 defendants prosecuted over the plan to murder police officers during a mass demonstration on December 8, 2019.
Under the plan, the conspirators would vandalise shops seen as pro-government to draw police onto the street, before detonating a bomb packed with 2kg (4.4lbs) of explosives near a petrol station on Hennessy Road in Wan Chai.
A sniper would then ambush retreating officers while another would set off a larger bomb containing 8kg of explosives and 150 nails. The objective was to steal officers’ handguns in preparation for further conflict with authorities.
A financial investigation found the conspirators had raised more than HK$4 million through various channels, with HK$2.27 million gathered after opening a Telegram channel called “Dragonteam2019” on November 6, 2019.
Six of the seven convicted defendants pleaded guilty to a raft of charges before the 2024 trial, including conspiracy to bomb prescribed objects, conspiracy to murder, possession of firearms with intent to endanger life, and conspiracy to provide or collect property to commit terrorist acts.
A jury cleared six other defendants but found a seventh guilty of conspiracy to cause explosions that was likely to endanger life.
Ng received the harshest sentence of 23 years and 10 months in prison, while Wong was sentenced to 13½ years after receiving a substantial discount for testifying for the prosecution.

Lau was cleared of conspiracy to provide or collect property to commit terrorist acts.
The court heard on Monday that Ng, Wong and Lau had a remaining balance of HK$674,860 at the time of their arrests.
The money was previously frozen by the secretary for security under the ordinance, which was enacted pursuant to a UN Security Council resolution to combat international terrorism after the September 11 attacks in the United States in 2001.
Anthony Chan Ho-ki SC, representing the secretary for justice, argued that the money represented funds used to support the plot rather than legitimate income.
He said Lau’s acquittal was not a reason to oppose the secretary for justice’s application, as long as the court was satisfied the money was used to finance or assist in a terrorist act.
Mrs Justice Judianna Barnes said she would explain in writing her reasons for granting the application in about a week.


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Hong Kong court confiscates HK$674,860 from 3 defendants in terrorism trial

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Law and Crime

High Court declares money raised by ‘Dragon Slaying Brigade’ constituted terrorist property under ordinance


High Court declares money raised by ‘Dragon Slaying Brigade’ constituted terrorist property under ordinance.


Hong Kong court confiscates HK$674,860 from 3 defendants in terrorism trial

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}High Court declares money raised by ‘Dragon Slaying Brigade’ constituted terrorist property under ordinance

High Court declares money raised by ‘Dragon Slaying Brigade’ constituted terrorist property under ordinance