Five to plead guilty over June 4 vigil

Five of the 24 pro-democracy figures charged in connection with an unauthorized assembly last year marking the June 4 crackdown said today that they plan to plead guilty, RTHK reports.

Former lawmaker Chu Hoi-dick, jailed activist Joshua Wong Chi-fung and district councilors Lester Shum Ngo-fai, Tiffany Yuen Ka-wai and Jannelle Rosalynne Leung told District Court judge Anthony Kwok Kai-on 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 organizing, 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 Chee-ying– will next appear in court on June 11.

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