REUTERS
February 16, 2021 at 14:30 JST
Hong Kong pro-democracy activists Leung Kwok-hung gestures as he arrives at a court in Hong Kong on Feb. 16. (AP Photo)
HONG KONG--Two Hong Kong pro-democracy activists pleaded guilty on Tuesday to charges related to an illegal assembly during mass anti-government protests in August 2019, while seven others, including media tycoon Jimmy Lai, pleaded not guilty.
The 2019 protests, fueled by a perception Beijing was curbing the wide-ranging freedoms promised to the former British colony upon its return to Chinese rule in 1997, plunged the semi-autonomous city into its biggest crisis since the handover.
The rally in August 2019 was estimated to have drawn more than 1 million people, despite heavy rain, and provided a respite from the clashes between protesters and police seen often at demonstrations in the months before and after.
Former pro-democracy politician and activist Au Nok-hin pleaded guilty to organizing and knowingly taking part in an unauthorized assembly, while Leung Yiu-chung, another activist, pleaded guilty to participating in an illegal assembly.
Leung and Au will hear the verdict on March 22.
The other seven activists on trial, including prominent Beijing critic Lai, Democratic Party founder Martin Lee, and veteran activists Lee Cheuk-yan, and Leung Kwok-hung, known as Long Hair, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The latter two shouted "Object to political prosecution!" when making the plea.
Beijing has responded to the 2019 protests by imposing a sweeping national security law in June last year, punishing anything China deems as secession, subversion, terrorism or collusion with foreign forces with up to life in prison.
Since the introduction of the law, the government has disqualified opposition politicians and jailed activists, while authorities have banned slogans, songs and pro-democracy political activity in schools.
Lai has been in custody since December and is scheduled for another court appearance on Thursday for his appeal against an earlier decision to deny him bail in relation to charges of colluding with foreign forces.
Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong pleads guilty to illegal assembly
November 23, 2020
Hong Kong court says media tycoon Jimmy Lai not guilty of criminal intimidation in 2017 case
September 3, 2020
Hong Kong government critic Jimmy Lai returns to court
February 1, 2021
Hong Kong activists Joshua Wong, Agnes Chow jailed
December 2, 2020
Hong Kong democracy activist Joshua Wong arrested for 2019 illegal assembly
September 24, 2020
Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai granted bail
December 23, 2020
Here is a collection of first-hand accounts by “hibakusha” atomic bomb survivors.
A peek through the music industry’s curtain at the producers who harnessed social media to help their idols go global.
Cooking experts, chefs and others involved in the field of food introduce their special recipes intertwined with their paths in life.
A series based on diplomatic documents declassified by Japan’s Foreign Ministry
A series about Japanese-Americans and their memories of World War II
