"Long Hair” pleads guilty and denies wrongdoing over National Day assembly case

“Long Hair” Leung Kwok-hung said he pleaded guilty, but did not think he did anything wrong during mitigation of the 10 defendants who organized the National Day unauthorized assembly case in 2019.

Cyd Ho Sau-lan and Lee Cheuk-yan said they have always advocated for peaceful protests and had nothing to do with violence, but District Court judge Amanda Woodcock questioned how they can distance themselves from the violence which happened along the rally route the same day.

Jimmy Lai Chee-ying, 73, Lee, 64, Leung, 65, Albert Ho Chun-yan, 69, Yeung Sum, 73, Sin Chung-kai, 60, Cyd Ho, 66, Avery Ng Man-yuen, 44, Figo Chan Ho-wun, 25, and Richard Tsoi Yiu-Cheong, 53, have pleaded guilty for organizing an unauthorized assembly.

Ng and Tsoi also admitted to taking part in the assembly, while the same charge against the other eight defendants was not pursued by the court.

Chan, Lee, Leung and Albert Ho also pleaded guilty to an additional charge of inciting others to take part in the unauthorized assembly.

Lai, Leung, Lee and Cyd Ho are currently serving prison terms of eight to 18 months for organizing or taking part in assemblies in August 2019, while the six other defendants were remanded at the Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre.

Woodcock has set sentencing for Friday (May 28).

In mitigation, Leung said in a written statement that he “pleaded guilty but did nothing wrong.”

“The national day march was as peaceful as it was scheduled the whole time. We were just exercising our rights protected by the Basic Law and using our freedom to express our political views. What’s wrong with it?” Leung said.

“If we have to feel guilty about it, doesn’t it mean millions of Hongkongers who joined the three massive marches in 2019 also have to feel deeply repentant?” he added.

Senior counsel Hectar Pun Hei who represented Leung said his client had already said the march would be peaceful and he only took part in the march for around an hour before leaving.

Pun added that the violent incidents that happened on the day had nothing to do with the march and the court should not blame Leung for it.

He also said Leung is suffering from heart diseases and his health condition has been getting worse after being remanded.

Leung has been fighting for the rights of grassroots citizens, the vulnerable and the elderly, Pun said. He had also donated part of his income to support democracy.

Lee said in the mitigation letter that he loves China and has been fighting for human rights in China.

“If loving the country means loving the Communist Party of China, that would be much easier. We just need to follow the party’s instructions,” Lee said.

“But I choose to live in the truth,” he added. “My love for the country is loving Chinese people. The country should protect people’s freedom and dignity instead of controlling their minds and behaviors.”

Cyd Ho also said it was unfortunate that the mutual trust between Hong Kong government and citizens was severely undermined in the past two years.

“To prevent anger and distrust from upward spiraling, I believe reconciliation is the ultimate way out. I wish we have all learned a lesson. We must have faith in peace, and we must trust the Hong Kong people,” she said.