Hongkonger pleads guilty over role in 2019 protests 4 years after initial arrest

A Hong Kong student has been convicted of taking part in an unlawful assembly at a shopping centre during the months-long 2019 social unrest after being rearrested four years on from the initial offence.

Isaac Lee, 20, on Wednesday pleaded guilty to his participation in the gathering at Kwun Tong’s APM shopping centre on June 30, 2020, in which he and others were arrested after being spotted waving flags and holding banners to promote the city’s independence, as well as chanting slogans.

Magistrate Edward Wong Ching-yu of Kwun Tong Court said he would consider the defendant’s young age in deciding on the sentencing and ordered reports to help determine whether Lee should serve time at a training, detention or rehabilitation centre instead of a prison.

Lee was remanded in custody ahead of sentencing on August 12.

The court heard the defendant had become a wanted person after police learned he had left the city in August 2021 to study in the United Kingdom.

Lee did not return until July 15 this year, when he was arrested at the city’s airport. He was brought to court the next day.

The prosecution played the court video footage that showed the student at the shopping centre holding a blue banner with the words “Hong Kong independence”. He could be seen standing alongside a few other protesters who were also waving flags with the same message.