Court rejects Hong Kong lawmaker’s bid to summon 70 officials and lawmakers to testify at his assault trial

Ruling means radical Wong Yuk-man, who is accused of throwing a glass at Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying, will have no defence witnesses at trial

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Lawmaker Wong Yuk-man says he will take his case to the High Court if necessary. Photo: Edward Wong

Published: 7:09pm, 10 Mar 2016Updated: 7:13pm, 10 Mar 2016

Radical lawmaker Wong Yuk-man’s bid to summon 70 government officials and lawmakers to testify for him as he stands accused of throwing a glass at Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying was rejected in Eastern Court on Thursday.

This means his case will proceed to trial on April 11 without any defence witnesses while the prosecution has already enlisted 26, including Leung and his bodyguards and the lawmaker for the import and export sector, Wong Ting-kwong.

The 64-year-old Wong has denied one count of common assault. He allegedly hurled a glass and a sheaf of documents in Leung’s direction during a question-and-answer session in the Legislative Council on July 3, 2014.

Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying picks up a piece of the glass that was allegedly thrown at him by Wong Yuk-man in a Legco session. Photo: K. Y. Cheng

He previously told the court that government officials and lawmakers who were present that day had rejected his request to testify as they were either too busy or scared. Some also told him they did not see what happened.

He then asked the court to issue summonses to 70 potential witnesses – 14 principal government officials, a Central Policy Unit member, plus 55 lawmakers or Legco staff.

“I may not need all 70,” said Wong. “It depends on the prosecution case.”