Five To Plead Guilty Over June Fourth Vigil

Five of the 24 pro-democracy figures charged in connection with an unauthorised assembly last year marking the June Fourth crackdown said on Friday that they plan to plead guilty.

Former lawmaker Chu Hoi-dick, jailed activist Joshua Wong and district councillors Lester Shum, Tiffany Yuen and Jannelle Leung told District Court judge Anthony Kwok through their lawyer of their decision relating to the gathering at Victoria Park on June 4, 2020.

They will appear in court again on April 30.

The other 19 defendants who were charged with organising, taking part in or inciting others to join the event – among them former Democratic Party chairman Wu Chi-wai, Lee Cheuk-yan of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China and media tycoon Jimmy Lai – will next appear in court on June 11.

Police banned last year's candlelight vigil scheduled for Victoria Park, citing the Covid situation.