Ronson Chan Ron-sing, chairman of the Hong Kong Journalists Association, was initially arrested for obstructing police officers and disorder in a public place after an altercation with two police officers while covering a homeowner committee meeting at MacPherson Stadium in Mong Kok on September 7 last year. According to the officers, Chan refused to provide identification and was “uncooperative.”

He was formally charged with “obstructing a police officer” on September 19, an offense that can carry up to two years in jail.

The female constable Leung, who Chan was accused of having obstructed from carrying out her duty, told the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today that Chan was among two “suspicious” men seen by the officers that day.

She said Chan was “holding onto his crossbody bag tight,” which led her to believe Chan might enter MacPherson Stadium to undergo protest activities.

She said Chan took out a silver cardholder and waved it around the third time she requested him to show his identification, yet he produced no HKID.

The constable also recalled that Chan became increasingly agitated, and the officers eventually arrested him on a station sergeant’s order after multiple warnings.

The hearing continues.

Chan was granted bail for this case to travel to the UK for a journalism fellowship in September last year. He returned to the city in April this year.