[July 21, 2019] A night I was so enraged that I couldn't forget, a night the Hong Kong & China Government has colluded with Traid Gang Members, together with Police assulting Anti-Government Protesters.

Before this day, we still believe Hong Kong was a place of law and order. We were shocked and furious watching live on TV and social media witnessing a regime working together with Gangsters to rule the society. It happened in movie but it went true that night.

After that night, my homeland has long gone. It has passed the point of no-return.

Years later on court, the assigned judge defined the incident was characterized as a mutual confrontation between two groups, not solely an assault by the white-clad group on civilians. It is blurring the line between black and white and calling a spade a shovel!

It is indiscriminate assault, this is terrorism.

Background

The events in Yuen Long on July 21, 2019, occurred amid the 2019–2020 Hong Kong protests, which began in March 2019 against a proposed extradition bill that would allow suspects to be sent to mainland China for trial. These protests evolved into broader demands for democracy, police accountability, and protection of Hong Kong's autonomy under the "one country, two systems" framework. Tensions were high, with frequent clashes between protesters and police. In the lead-up to July 21, there were warnings in Yuen Long—a district in the New Territories near the border with mainland China—about potential violence. Local villagers and pro-Beijing figures, including Legislative Council member Junius Ho, had publicly urged action against protesters, with some online posts calling for residents to "protect their homeland." Rumors circulated that triad (organized crime) members might target protesters dressed in black, the common attire for demonstrators.

On July 21 itself, a large protest organized by the Civil Human Rights Front took place on Hong Kong Island, drawing around 138,000–430,000 participants marching from Causeway Bay to Sheung Wan. The march started peacefully but escalated into violence near the Chinese government's Liaison Office, where protesters defaced the national emblem, blocked roads, and clashed with police. Police resources were heavily focused on Hong Kong Island, leaving areas like Yuen Long understaffed.

Sequence of Events

In the evening of July 21, 2019, a mob of approximately 100–700 men dressed in white shirts and armed with wooden sticks, metal rods, poles, and rattan canes gathered in Yuen Long. They were suspected by many observers and victims to have ties to triads and local villages. Around 10:00–10:30 pm, the assailants began attacking people on the streets, targeting those in black clothing (associated with protesters returning from the Hong Kong Island demonstration), as well as journalists, bystanders, and commuters. The violence escalated when the mob stormed the Yuen Long MTR (subway) station around 10:45 pm, assaulting people on the concourse, platforms, and inside train carriages. Victims included pro-democracy lawmaker Lam Cheuk-ting, who was severely injured (requiring 18 stitches), a pregnant woman, and ordinary residents like chef Calvin So. The attacks were indiscriminate, with reports of beatings continuing intermittently until around 3:55 am on July 22.

Despite over 24,000 emergency calls to the 999 hotline starting from around 10:45 pm, police response was delayed. Two officers arrived briefly at 10:52 pm but left, citing being outnumbered and lacking protective gear. A larger group of about 30 officers arrived at 11:20 pm—39 minutes after the initial attacks and shortly after the main mob had dispersed. No immediate arrests were made, even though police encountered some white-shirted men with weapons; in one instance, officers were seen patting an armed man on the shoulder before letting him go. Police stations in the area reportedly closed their gates to citizens seeking help, and some hotline operators advised callers to stay home if they were afraid.

Allegations of Police Inaction and Collusion

The incident sparked widespread allegations of police negligence, inaction, or even collusion with the attackers. Critics, including pro-democracy lawmakers like Eddie Chu and Lam Cheuk-ting, pointed to the delayed response, the lack of arrests on the night, and prior warnings that police relatives had allegedly shared with residents (e.g., advising against wearing black). Videos showed pro-Beijing politician Junius Ho shaking hands with white-shirted men, calling them "heroes" and thanking them for their "hard work," though Ho claimed he was unaware of the attacks at the time and defended the mob as reacting to protester violence. Former Independent Commission Against Corruption investigator Stephen S.N. Char suggested police misconduct, comparing it to past incidents during the 2014 Umbrella Movement.

Police denied collusion, attributing the delay to stretched resources from the Hong Kong Island clashes and claiming they saw no ongoing criminal activity upon arrival. However, investigations by journalists, such as Bao Choy's documentary for RTHK, revealed police presence in Yuen Long earlier in the evening without intervention, leading to her prosecution (later overturned on appeal) for accessing public records. The Independent Police Complaints Council (IPCC) report in 2020 concluded there was no direct evidence of collusion but acknowledged online calls for violence from both sides, describing the event as a "gang fight" rather than a one-sided attack—a narrative shift criticized as downplaying the mob's role.

Responses from Government and Authorities

Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam condemned the violence but refused to label it a "riot," unlike some protester actions. Chief Secretary Matthew Cheung issued an apology for the handling but expressed full support for the police. Pro-Beijing figures portrayed the attacks as a defensive response to protesters "invading" Yuen Long, with some media blaming demonstrators for provocation. Internationally, the U.S. condemned the "orchestrated violence," the UK monitored the probe closely, and countries like Japan and South Korea issued travel warnings. Pro-democracy groups called it "terrorism," comparing it to state-sanctioned violence.

Aftermath

At least 45 people were injured, some seriously, with no fatalities reported. Initial arrests were minimal, but by 2021, seven attackers were sentenced to 3.5–7 years in prison for rioting and wounding—the first convictions related to the incident. Paradoxically, some victims, including Lam Cheuk-ting, were later arrested and charged with rioting, accused of escalating the situation. A district council task force investigated but faced obstructions, especially after the 2020 national security law stifled dissent. The event eroded public trust in police, fueled further protests (e.g., a march in Yuen Long on July 27 leading to more clashes), and became a symbol of alleged government-triad ties to suppress the movement. As of 2025, victims and activists continue to seek full accountability, though official narratives have evolved to frame it as mutual violence rather than a targeted mob attack.