Marchers blocked roads near CY Leung residence in Central, court hears

Protesters in the January 1 rally last year blocked roads in Central near Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying's official residence, despite receiving police permission to walk in small groups to the main gate of the premises, a court heard yesterday.

Traffic was brought to a standstill for up to 1-1/2 hours on Queen's Road Central near a branch of the Bank of China because of the march, the court heard.

People Power lawmaker Albert Chan Wai-yip, 57, pleaded not guilty to organising and participating in an unlawful assembly on January 1, 2013.

"About 1,000 protesters were led by the defendant to the east gate of Government House, where the defendant requested the police to allow the protesters to surround Government House," prosecutor Jonathan Man Tak-ho told Eastern Court.

The march started at Moreton Terrace in Causeway Bay and paused at the east gate of Government House on Upper Albert Road at 9pm, the police said.

The protesters then asked to walk on to the main gate. The police allowed them to do so in groups of 20 to 30 people.

Chan insisted on marching in larger groups, the prosecution said.