Two Ex-lawmakers Plead Guilty Over Illegal Rally

Former lawmakers Au Nok-hin and Leung Yiu-chung on Tuesday pleaded guilty to protest-related charges over an anti-government demonstration on August 18, 2019.

They were among nine pro-democracy figures charged with organising and joining an unauthorised assembly.

The District Court heard that Au, a deputy convenor of the Civil Human Rights Front, had, along with others, led a march from Victoria Park to Chater Road without police approval.

Au admitted to organising and taking part in an unauthorised assembly.

Leung pleaded guilty to joining the assembly.

The other charge he faced, organising an unauthorised assembly, was left on court file and will not be dealt with until the court approves.

Au and Leung were released on bail ahead of their sentencing on March 22.

The other defendants – Jimmy Lai, Martin Lee, Margaret Ng, Lee Cheuk-yan, Cyd Ho, Leung Kwok-hung and Albert Ho – pleaded not guilty to both charges.

Senior counsel Lawrence Lok, representing Martin Lee and Albert Ho, told the court that he will submit a 12-page expert report relating to police operational matters including crowd management, which he said was expected to arrive later on Tuesday.

The judge said this was the first time she'd learnt that the defence would submit the report, and the prosecution said it will have to read it first before the trial opens.

The hearing has been adjourned to Wednesday morning.

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