Six plead guilty as trial starts for 2019 protest bomb plot

Hong Kong’s anti-terrorism laws have been cited for the first time after some members of protest groups allegedly conspired to make bombs in an attempt to ambush and kill police officers during the 2019 social unrest.

Six of the defendants pleaded guilty before High Court Judge Judianna Barnes Wai-ling on Monday.

Cheung Chun-fu, a 22-year-old student, pleaded guilty to one count of possession of explosives, which is two boxes of firecrackers, and one count of possession of arms without license, which is four canisters of pepper spray.

Designer Chung Suet-ying, 29, pleaded guilty to one count of possession of arms and ammunition without license for owning a rifle, six magazines with 211 bullets, and two pistol magazines with 30 bullets together with her then-boyfriend David Su, who is also a defendant in the case.

Su, 18, has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to murder, possession of arms or ammunition with intent to endanger life and also resisting arrest while in possession of arms or ammunition. He was accused of conspiring with others to murder police officers.

Unemployed 33-year-old Eddie Pang Kwan-ho pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bombing of prescribed objects under the United Nations (Anti-Terrorism Measures) Ordinance with two explosive devices.

Choi Hoi-ming, a 21-year-old warehouse assistant, pleaded guilty to aids and abets others in making explosive, while 27-year-old Chan Yuk-lung admitted one count of conspiracy to possess of arms or ammunition without license and one count of possession of arms and ammunition without license.

The defendants, with some alleged to be the members of a radical protest group called "Dragon Slayers,” were arrested after police accused them of planning to carry out a bomb attack during a rally marking International Human Rights Day on December 8 in the anti-fugitive bill saga in 2019.

The prosecution said the protest groups planned to ransack shops to attract authorities and to push officers closer to the bombs.

The trial will resume on Tuesday (Feb 20) and is expected to last more than two months.