Advertisement
Hong Kong protests: former opposition lawmakers plead guilty to roles in illegal 2019 march, face up to 5 years in jail
- Au Nok-hin and Leung Yiu-chung both had their bail extended by the District Court until the sentencing hearing
- Their co-defendants, including media tycoon Jimmy Lai, have pleaded not guilty and face a trial that could impact other hearings over unlawful assemblies
Reading Time:3 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
Two former opposition lawmakers are facing up to five years in prison after admitting to their roles in an unauthorised demonstration against the now-withdrawn extradition bill in Hong Kong more than a year ago.
Advertisement
Au Nok-hin and Leung Yiu-chung had their bail extended until sentencing following their guilty pleas on Tuesday at West Kowloon Court, where their District Court trial was held to accommodate the large number of journalists and supporters in attendance.
Seven other co-defendants, including media tycoon Jimmy Lai Chee-ying, are set to dispute the legality of their prosecution in a two-week trial over the same 2019 protest, the outcome of which could impact cases involving five other unauthorised assemblies. It will be the first trial arising from an unauthorised assembly in which the defence contests the constitutionality of the offence.
The trial centres on a demonstration in Causeway Bay on August 18, 2019, when protesters defied police and turned an approved assembly inside Victoria Park into an illegal march to Central.
Advertisement
The seven who have pleaded not guilty include Lai and six former opposition lawmakers: Martin Lee Chu-ming, “Long Hair” Leung Kwok-hung, Lee Cheuk-yan, Albert Ho Chun-yan, Cyd Ho Sau-lan and Margaret Ng Ngoi-yee.
Advertisement