Court Refuses Actor Wong Leave to Appeal Rioting Conviction
Hong Kong's top court declined to hear the appeal of actor Gregory Wong Chung-yiu, convicted over the 2019 storming of the Legislative Council chamber.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Law
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The Court of Final Appeal's Appeal Committee refused actor Gregory Wong Chung-yiu leave to appeal his rioting conviction, a written order dated October 30, 2026 shows. Wong was sentenced to six years and two months in jail after the Court of Appeal dismissed his conviction and sentence appeals in March 2026.
Why it matters
The refusal ends Wong's route to Hong Kong's highest court, leaving his conviction and sentence in place. The case is one of several arising from the July 1, 2019 storming of the Legislative Council chamber.
The Appeal Committee found Wong did not put forward reasonably arguable grounds for appeal. Eight defendants pleaded guilty to rioting, while Wong Ka-ho and Ma Kai-chung were acquitted of rioting but fined HK$1,500 and HK$1,000 respectively for entering the chamber precinct.
The players
Gregory Wong Chung-yiu
A Hong Kong actor whose rioting conviction over the 2019 Legislative Council storming was upheld at every stage of appeal.
Court of Final Appeal
Hong Kong's highest court, whose Appeal Committee declined to grant Wong permission to challenge his conviction further.
The details
Wong was convicted after trial of rioting and related offences tied to the storming of the Legislative Council chamber on July 1, 2019. The Appeal Committee, comprising permanent judges Roberto Ribeiro and Johnson Lam and non-permanent judge Patrick Chan, considered written submissions before refusing leave.
Timeline
- July 1, 2019: Defendants stormed the Legislative Council chamber.
- March 2026: Court of Appeal dismissed Wong's conviction and sentence appeals.
- October 30, 2026: Appeal Committee issued written order refusing leave to appeal.
- November 2, 2026: The refusal of leave was reported publicly.
Legal Context
The ruling is a further step in the prosecutions that followed the July 1, 2019 storming of the Legislative Council chamber, which began with 14 defendants. Eight pleaded guilty and 12 were convicted of rioting, with sentences running from roughly 54 to 82 months.
For the public, the ruling confirms that the rioting convictions from the 2019 chamber storming stand without further appeal at the top court. Residents and observers can treat the case as concluded at the Court of Final Appeal level, though the extraction does not describe any other pending matters.
The takeaway
Appeals to Hong Kong's top court are granted only where arguable legal grounds exist, and this refusal shows that a conviction upheld on appeal can stand without further review. Readers following the 2019 cases can track how each defendant's sentence has been resolved.
Further reading
Explore more Law coverage for context on how courts handle appeals in high-profile prosecutions.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Dimsum Daily.
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