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June 4 vigil in Hong Kong
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Some of the defendants charged over last year’s banned Tiananmen vigil speak to the media outside West Kowloon Court on Friday. Photo: Dickson Lee
Hong KongPolitics

Six Tiananmen vigil organisers, 2 opposition figures plead not guilty to unauthorised assembly charges; 2 ex-lawmakers to admit offence

  • The charges stem from last year’s June 4 vigil, which went ahead after being banned by police for the first time in 30 years
  • A total of 20 people have been charged in the case, including jailed media mogul Jimmy Lai
June 4 vigil in Hong Kong
Brian Wong
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Two opposition figures and six core members of the organiser of Hong Kong’s annual Tiananmen vigil have pleaded not guilty to unauthorised assembly charges stemming from last year’s banned event, while two former lawmakers are expected to admit taking part.
The six members of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, which has hosted the candlelight vigil at Victoria Park every June 4 for decades, are all facing between one and three charges under the Public Order Ordinance. The charges – organising an unauthorised assembly, taking part in one and inciting others to take part in one – are punishable by up to five years in prison.

The six are alliance chairman Lee Cheuk-yan and standing committee members Richard Tsoi Yiu-cheong, Chow Hang-tung, Chiu Yan-loy, Leung Kam-wai and Leung Kwok-wah.

People gather on a football pitch at Victoria Park on June 4 last year in spite of a police ban. Photo: May Tse
The two opposition figures who also pleaded not guilty to taking part in an unauthorised assembly, Democratic Party chairman Wu Chi-wai and activist Gwyneth Ho Kwai-lam, are both remanded in custody after being charged with subversion under the national security law in a separate case.

Meanwhile, former opposition lawmakers Cyd Ho Sau-lan and Yeung Sum – who were both jailed last month over an illegal rally on National Day in 2019 – have indicated they will plead guilty to the same charge.

Ten other defendants charged in the case – including jailed media mogul Jimmy Lai Chee-ying and two more of the alliance’s standing committee members, Albert Ho Chun-yan and Mak Hoi-wah – have reserved their plea decisions for a later hearing.

Chief District Judge Justin Ko King-sau, presiding over the hearing at the more spacious West Kowloon Court, scheduled the start of the 10-day trial for November 2, while arranging for Yeung and Cyd Ho to enter formal pleas on September 9. The next pretrial hearing will be held on July 23.

After showdown over Tiananmen vigil banned in Hong Kong, both police and residents claim victory – but what happens next?

Last year’s vigil was banned for the first time in three decades, with police citing public health concerns relating to the coronavirus pandemic. The vigil was banned again this year on the same grounds.

Six others have also been charged over last year’s event. Activist Joshua Wong Chi-fung and three district councillors – Lester Shum, Tiffany Yuen Ka-wai and Janelle Leung Hoi-ching – were previously sentenced to between four and 10 months in prison after pleading guilty to taking part in the vigil. Yuen and Leung, who were both jailed for four months, have lodged appeals against their sentences.

Former lawmaker Nathan Law Kwun-chung and activist Sunny Cheung Kwan-yang, who both also faced participation charges, left Hong Kong before their first court hearing in September last year.

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