A MAGISTRATE yesterday refused to overturn his ruling that a Legislative Councillor's assistant and a district board member were guilty of unlawful assembly after a June 4 protest outside the Hong Kong headquarters of Xinhua (the New China News Agency).
Defendants Richard Choi Yiu-cheong, 25, aide to legislator Lau Chin-shek, and Wong Tai Sin District Board member Andrew To Kwan-hang, 27, said they would appeal.
Choi is fighting another battle to get back his Home Visit Permit which was revoked after he accompanied dissident Han Dongfang to China.
Together with To, Choi was found guilty of unlawful assembly in June this year after a demonstration in June last year, in which a police cordon was stormed outside Xinhua's headquarters.
Sentencing was adjourned until after yesterday's review hearing and will take place on September 22 at Sha Tin Court, after community service reports.
Ruling that he would not overturn the conviction, Magistrate Alan Wright yesterday told Eastern Court he would have made an order for costs had he the power to do so.
Defence counsel Martin Lee Chu-ming, QC, a Legislative Councillor, had said fresh evidence concerning a June 4 demonstration and a hunger strike in support of Han Dongfang held outside Xinhua's headquarters this year proved assemblies became unlawful only after police barriers were erected.