Tiananmen vigil organisers, media boss Jimmy Lai to be prosecuted on incitement charges over Victoria Park gathering, Hong Kong police source says
- The case, which will go to court on June 23, stems from a crowd of thousands turning out in defiance of a ban on the yearly candlelight gathering
- Police, meanwhile, mobilise 3,000 riot officers ahead of potential Friday protests marking force’s first use of tear gas on June 12 last year
A police source said the force would have 3,000 riot officers mobilised, though it was believed the protest will largely be limited to singing.
06:13
Thousands of Hongkongers defy ban and gather to mark Tiananmen anniversary
Writing on his Facebook page on Thursday, Lee Cheuk-yan, chairman of the Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, said officers informed him he would receive a court summons for inciting people to take part in an unauthorised assembly on June 4.
Lee said the prosecutions were expected “in retaliation” for exercising their right of assembly.
“When you look at the overall Hong Kong situation, police are abusing their power to arrest, the Department of Justice is abusing its power to prosecute and trying to [intimidate] the people of Hong Kong when we exercise our right to assembly,” he told the media.
Lee said candles were lit across Hong Kong on June 4, peacefully and without incident.
