Hong Kong protests: opposition activists plead guilty to incitement over unauthorised march, which they claim more than 350,000 people attended
- Former lawmakers among group of seven who admit to organising and incitement charges over rally on October 20, 2019
- Police had previously banned gathering on the grounds of public order and safety
On Thursday, the District Court heard police had objected to the procession on the grounds of public order and safety, when the now-disbanded Civil Human Rights Front notified the commissioner of its intention to hold a march from Salisbury Garden in Tsim Sha Tsui to the West Kowloon terminus on Austin Road on October 20.
But front convenor Figo Chan Ho-wun and three ex-lawmakers, “Long Hair” Leung Kwok-hung, Cyd Ho Sau-lan and Albert Ho Chun-yan, remained defiant and announced plans to proceed with the march during a press conference held outside the Court of Final Appeal in Central the day before.
The rally proceeded with the same theme, at the same time and on the same route as the front had planned, with organisers claiming 350,000 people had joined them.
Participants called for the abolition of the “evil” mask law that prohibited the use of facial coverings, establishment of an independent committee of inquiry into the protests and reorganisation of the police force.