A pro-democracy activist on trial for disorderly conduct told a magistrate yesterday it was ridiculous that Chinese speakers had to pander to him by having the proceedings in English.
Lau Shan-ching, 45, former legislator Tsang Kin-shing, 42, and April 5th Action Group members Leung Kwok-hung, 42, and Koo Sze-yiu, 49, appeared in Eastern Court yesterday on charges of behaving in a disorderly manner in Wan Chai on July 1, whereby a breach of the peace was likely to be caused. The four, who deny the charges, were among a group protesting against President Jiang Zemin.
Lau, representing himself, said he risked an unfair hearing without a Chinese-speaking magistrate.
He claimed Magistrate Tong Man had vowed on December 22 that a Chinese magistrate would hear the case.
'I feel it's ridiculous, you're the only one in this court who speaks English as a mother tongue. On this land of the Chinese people, all of us have to pander to you,' he told Magistrate Colin Mackintosh. 'I suggest the court be conducted in Cantonese and the interpreter translate the proceedings to you.
'It's based on my understanding that this trial would have been in Chinese that I chose to represent myself. Now I'm finding difficulties in self-representation.' Hectar Pun Tar, for Tsang, said that under the Basic Law the defendants had the right to ask that the trial be conducted in Chinese.
