Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai and 12 others face incitement charges over June 4 Tiananmen vigil
- All of the 13 appear in court accused of inciting people to take part in an unauthorised assembly on June 4
- Police had banned the annual gathering for the first time in three decades, citing public health concerns over the coronavirus pandemic
The 13 appeared in West Kowloon Court on Monday afternoon accused of inciting people to take part in an unauthorised assembly on June 4 in Victoria Park, the venue for the city’s annual vigil.
Some of the accused stated in court they would plead not guilty to the allegations, despite prosecutors’ request to adjourn the case without hearing the defendants’ pleas.
Lai and three executive members of the Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China – chairman Lee Cheuk-yan and standing committee members Albert Ho Chun-yan and Richard Tsoi Yiu-cheong – were notified by police one week after this year’s event that they would be prosecuted on incitement charges.
Nine other members of the alliance were also told the next day they would be prosecuted on the same grounds, bringing the total number of arrestees to 13.
The nine are Andrew Wan Siu-kin, Cheung Man-kwong, Leung Yiu-chung, Mak Hoi-wah, Chiu Yan-loy, Chow Hang-tung, Leung Kam-wai, Kwok Wing-kin and Civil Human Rights Front vice-convenor Figo Chan Ho-wun.