Jimmy Lai, Lee Cheuk-yan And Yeung Sum Plead Guilty

Media tycoon Jimmy Lai, former lawmaker Lee Cheuk-yan and former Democratic Party chairman Yeung Sum on Wednesday pleaded guilty to taking part in an unauthorised assembly in 2019, with District Court judge Amanda Woodcock saying their sentences will be handed down on April 16.

An anti-government march on Hong Kong Island on August 31, 2019 descended into chaos, with clashes erupting between police and protesters in various districts.

Prosecutors said the march, called for by the Civil Human Rights Front, had been banned by police.

The court was shown video footage of Lai, Lee and Yeung attending a rally in Wan Chai, as well as a subsequent demonstration.

The video showed crowds blocking roads, while police repeatedly warned people they were taking part in an illegal assembly.

A media interview presented in court showed Lee saying that people had the right to demonstrate, while another video showed Lai calling on everyone to join the march.

Lee told the court that history will prove he did nothing wrong.

“I plead guilty but I haven’t done anything wrong. History will absolve me,” he said.

Lee's lawyer added during mitigation that the labour activist had devoted his entire life to defending the rights of those who have been oppressed, and he has no regrets.

Lai’s counsel, meanwhile, described his client as successful businessman who has made enormous contributions to Hong Kong’s economy. He added that the 73-year-old did not assume a leading role in the protest, nor did he engage in any violent acts.

Yeung, for his part, read out a statement, saying that even though he pleaded guilty, he had not done anything wrong.

He told the court that everybody should be entitled to basic rights like freedom of expression and freedom of assembly, adding that he’s willing to accept criminal responsibility for taking part in civil disobedience.

The guilty pleas came six days after Lai, Lee and five former opposition lawmakers were convicted of the same offence for their roles in a separate 2019 protest.

They all face a maximum sentence of five years imprisonment under the Public Order Ordinance.

Lai is currently on remand as he awaits trial over a national security case.

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