Henry Tong and Elaine To were preparing to spend their first wedding anniversary in separate cells – until their acquittal for riots during Hong Kong’s pro-democracy protests.
There were sighs and tears of relief in the court last Friday, when a judge declared that prosecutors failed to prove that the couple participated in clashes with police last July.
The pair were released, in a decision that has potential consequences for hundreds of other protesters facing similar charges.
However, they face a long journey where they will have to rebuild their lives and their businesses.
“We have already been punished,” Tong told AFP the day after his acquittal.
Fighting the charges demanded a heavy mental and financial burden for the two, who were among the first protesters to be prosecuted for riots, a crime that could take up to a decade in prison.
Over the weekend, they started to unpack all the equipment that had been stored inside the fitness studio they manage in the fashionable Sheung Wan neighborhood.
They also collected their three dogs – who were ready to be welcomed by friends and family.
A happy moment after almost a year of stress and restricted bail conditions.
“Now we can keep the business open and we need to make it legal again,” he told AFP.
But the future still looks uncertain.
“We suffer a lot financially,” said Tong.
