Supporters Of Edward Leung Flock To High Court

Hundreds of people gathered outside the High Court on Wednesday morning to support prominent localist Edward Leung, who is appealing against the six-year prison term he is serving over rioting charges.

The court was originally due to hear Leung's appeal against his convictions and sentence for taking part in the Mong Kok riots during the Lunar New Year holiday in 2016.

But lawyers for Leung said in court that they would only appeal against the six-year jail term, not the convictions.

The hearing started with the prosecution showing video clips of how a clearance operation of unlicensed hawkers in Mong Kok by staff from the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department on the evening of 8 February, 2016 descended into clashes between protesters and police.

That's after the localist group Leung belongs to, Hong Kong Indigenous, mobilised supporters to flood to the area.

Another man in the case, Wong Ka-kui, is seeking to overturn his three and a half year prison term, while a third, Lo Kin-man is challenging his rioting conviction and seven-year jail term.

The courtroom was packed with journalists and Leung’s supporters, with many wearing masks.

People had to stand in the lobby outside the courtroom and queue outside the court at Admiralty to wait for seats to attend the hearing.