June 4 Vigil Defendants May Be Tried In Lower Court

Some of the 24 pro-democracy figures arrested for their alleged roles in the banned June 4 candlelight vigil this year may have their cases heard at a magistrates' court where they would face lower maximum sentences.

Chief District Judge Justin Ko on Tuesday asked the prosecution to consider transferring the cases of 11 of the defendants facing lesser charges to a lower court.

Ko noted that they each only face one charge of taking part in an unauthorised rally, which did not involve the use of violence. He said possible sentences for the offence should be within a lower court’s jurisdiction.

The defendants, including prominent activists Lee Cheuk-yan, Albert Ho and Joshua Wong, as well as media tycoon Jimmy Lai, face charges such as organising, joining or inciting others to take part in an unauthorised assembly at Victoria Park to commemorate the Tiananmen Square massacre after the police banned the event citing social gathering restrictions.

Prosecutors have wanted the court to handle all 37 charges against the defendants in the same hearing in future, but Ko said there would be practical difficulties with the arrangement.

He said it would be difficult for one judge to handle all the charges, which involved events that happened at different times and locations on the evening of June 4.

The prosecution and the defence were told to get together and decide the way forward.

Ko adjourned Tuesday's hearing after learning that none of the defendants were ready to enter pleas, with Figo Chan from the League of Social Democrats yet to apply for legal aid.

The next hearing was set for February 5.

Arrest warrants were earlier issued for two other defendants, Nathan Law and Sunny Cheung, who have fled Hong Kong.