Schoolboy among group of activists charged over storming of Legco in June
There was applause from the overflowing public gallery today when 19 activists, including a 15-year-old boy, appeared in court to face charges over the storming of the Legislative Council during a protest in June against government plans to create two new towns.
There was applause from the overflowing public gallery today when 19 activists, including a 15-year-old boy, appeared in court to face charges over the storming of the Legislative Council during a protest in June against government plans to create two new towns.
Thirteen of the defendants were accused of unlawful assembly and attempted forcible entry, while others faced various charges from violating Legco rules to obstructing or assaulting Legco officers during the course of their duties.
All the charges dated from June 6 to June 14, when protests against the development plans in the northeastern New Territories were held outside the Legco complex in Tamar. The 19 defendants had all been charged within the last fortnight.
Today's initial proceedings split the defendants into five cases. The 14 defendants involved in one drew a round of applause from supporters as they rose to face the charges.
The defendants included Land Justice League convenor Yip Po-lam, 34, who was accused of disorderly behaviour in Legco. She entered a plea of not guilty and is expected to return to court for a pre-trial review on November 5.
About a dozen defendants have yet to enter pleas, including the vice-chairman of the League of Social Democrats Raphael Wong Ho-ming, 25, who is accused of obstructing a Legco officer.
He is due to return to court on October 27, along with HongKongese Priority founder Billy Chiu Hin-chung, 29, and former Scholarism member Ivan Lam Long-yin, 20, who are accused of unlawful assembly and attempted forcible entry.
The 15-year-old, the youngest defendant who cannot be named for legal reasons, faced the same two charges.
Outside court, the activists chanted slogans and some then went to join the student boycott.
Court proceedings have already begun against Civic Passion founder Wong Yeung-tat and activist Cheung Kwai-choi, 48, who appeared in court in June over the Legco protests. Another activist Chan Nin, 30, pleaded guilty to resisting arrest during the protests and was sentenced to 150 hours of community services in August.
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