Hong Kong tycoon Jimmy Lai, ex-lawmaker to contest incitement charges stemming from banned Tiananmen vigil

12 defendants returned to District Court on Friday for another procedural hearing

Lai and former lawmaker Leung Yiu-chung both indicate they will not plead guilty to inciting others to take part in an unauthorised assembly

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Police banned last year’s June 4 vigil in Victoria Park on public health grounds. Photo: Sam Tsang

Published: 8:22pm, 23 Jul 2021Updated: 8:21pm, 23 Jul 2021

Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai Chee-ying and another opposition figure have indicated they will contest incitement charges stemming from a banned June 4 vigil last year marking the anniversary of the Tiananmen Square crackdown, while 10 others have said they will plead guilty.

The 12 defendants returned to the District Court on Friday for another procedural hearing before Chief District Judge Justin Ko King-sau.

Lai and former lawmaker Leung Yiu-chung both indicated they would not plead guilty to inciting others to take part in an unauthorised assembly, with the latter denying an additional count relating to participation.

They are expected to stand trial on November 1, together with former Democratic Party chairman Wu Chi-wai, activist Gwyneth Ho Kwai-lam, and four core members of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, organiser of the annual vigil. The four are chairman Lee Cheuk-yan, vice-chairman Chow Hang-tung, and standing committee members Richard Tsoi Yiu-cheong and Leung Kam-wai.

These activists indicated earlier that they would not plead guilty to the unauthorised assembly or related charges.

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