An 87-year-old retired man, 曹元緒, has been charged with criminal damage over alleged damage to land at Happy Valley Catholic Cemetery. He appeared at Eastern Magistrates’ Court on August 17 and was granted bail, with an order to stay away from the alleged scene.
The charge alleges that on July 24, 曹元緒 damaged land behind a grave at the cemetery on Wong Nai Chung Road in Happy Valley without lawful excuse. The land is said in the charge to belong to the Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong.
The charge further alleges that he intended to damage the property or was reckless as to whether it would be damaged.
The defence applied for an adjournment, saying it had received instructions from 曹元緒 only on the day before the hearing and needed time to obtain relevant documents. Chief Magistrate Cheung Chi-wai approved the application.
The case was adjourned until October 26 for a further hearing. Bail was set at HK$2,000, and 曹元緒 must not return to the alleged location.