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Reporting restrictions lifted as 29 democrats plead guilty
Forty-seven democrats charged with “conspiracy to commit subversion” went on trial today, with 29 pleading guilty and media reporting restrictions lifted.
The 47 pro-democracy activists were charged under the national security law in February last year over their organization and participation in a primary election for the Legislative Council (Legco) election in July 2020 in order to determine candidates for LegCo, with 610,000 ballots cast by Hongkongers.
During the trial this morning in the West Kowloon District, 29 defendants pleaded guilty to “conspiracy to commit subversion” and will be sentenced in the Court of First Instance. These include former University of Hong Kong associate professor Benny Tai Yiu-ting, activist Joshua Wong Chi-fung, LGBT activist Jimmy Sham Tsz-kit, and some former lawmakers.
The 18 remaining defendants pleaded not guilty, including activist Leung Kwok-hung, former lawmaker Lam Cheuk-ting, and Raymond Chan Chi-chuen.
Four defendants, activist Gordon Ng Ching-hang and Lau Wing-hong, former District Councilor Tiffany Yuen Ka-wai, and former reporter Ho Kwai-lam were granted an order by Magistrate Peter Law Tak-chuen to have media reporting restrictions on their Committal proceeding lifted, as they previously appealed.
Law, who had rejected previous applications to lift the reporting ban, did so after being ordered to by a High Court judge in the interests of "open justice".
Despite the decision, some aspects of the proceedings, including bail hearings, will remain unreportable.
Law also refused to clarify whether a preliminary inquiry initiated by Ng, to ascertain the strength of the prosecution's case evidence before trial, would be reportable.
While the full trial date hasn't been set, Hong Kong Justice Secretary Paul Lam has already ordered the case to be tried without a jury, citing a "real risk" that justice might be impaired, according to a document seen by Reuters. He also cited an unspecified "involvement of foreign factors" as a reason.
The trial will instead be heard by three judges designated by Hong Kong's leader to handle national security cases.
"A hearing without a jury is unjust," activist Owen Chow Ka-shing, who also pleaded not guilty to the charges, shouted at the end of the hearing on Thursday.
During the trial this morning in the West Kowloon District, 29 defendants pleaded guilty to “conspiracy to commit subversion” and will be sentenced in the Court of First Instance. These include former University of Hong Kong associate professor Benny Tai Yiu-ting, activist Joshua Wong Chi-fung, LGBT activist Jimmy Sham Tsz-kit, and some former lawmakers.
The 18 remaining defendants pleaded not guilty, including activist Leung Kwok-hung, former lawmaker Lam Cheuk-ting, and Raymond Chan Chi-chuen.
Four defendants, activist Gordon Ng Ching-hang and Lau Wing-hong, former District Councilor Tiffany Yuen Ka-wai, and former reporter Ho Kwai-lam were granted an order by Magistrate Peter Law Tak-chuen to have media reporting restrictions on their Committal proceeding lifted, as they previously appealed.
Law, who had rejected previous applications to lift the reporting ban, did so after being ordered to by a High Court judge in the interests of "open justice".
Despite the decision, some aspects of the proceedings, including bail hearings, will remain unreportable.
Law also refused to clarify whether a preliminary inquiry initiated by Ng, to ascertain the strength of the prosecution's case evidence before trial, would be reportable.
While the full trial date hasn't been set, Hong Kong Justice Secretary Paul Lam has already ordered the case to be tried without a jury, citing a "real risk" that justice might be impaired, according to a document seen by Reuters. He also cited an unspecified "involvement of foreign factors" as a reason.
The trial will instead be heard by three judges designated by Hong Kong's leader to handle national security cases.
"A hearing without a jury is unjust," activist Owen Chow Ka-shing, who also pleaded not guilty to the charges, shouted at the end of the hearing on Thursday.
