National security law: Hong Kong was never endangered by motorcyclist’s alleged terrorist plot, defence argues as trial closes
- Prosecutors, however, argue defendant who drove into police officers aimed to intimidate public, further pro-independence agenda
- Trial centred largely on whether popular protest slogan ‘Liberate Hong Kong; revolution of our times’ was inherently secessionist
Prosecutors and defence lawyers appeared before a three-judge panel at the High Court on Tuesday to make their final remarks in the trial of Leon Tong Ying-kit, with a verdict due in the case on July 27.
Over the course of the 15-day trial, the court heard that Tong had travelled to Hong Kong Island on July 1 last year in the middle of a demonstration against the national security law – which had gone into effect the night before – driving his motorcycle through three police cordons before colliding with a trio of officers in Wan Chai. On his bike was a flag bearing the popular protest slogan “Liberate Hong Kong; revolution of our times”.
In his oral submission, defence counsel Clive Grossman SC conceded the 24-year-old defendant might well be convicted of careless driving for the manner in which he steered his motorbike, and that he might have been showing off and appeared suspicious.
However, Grossman contended, that was in “no way near” what anyone would consider an act of terrorism.
Instead, there was evidence suggesting Tong went to the area to meet his friends for lunch, and that he had carried a first aid kit in case someone was injured during the demonstration.
“Society as a whole was never in danger. There was no blowing up of high-rises and things like that,” Grossman said.
