Albert Ho pleads guilty as trial of disbanded Alliance starts

The trial against the now-disbanded Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China for inciting others to subvert state power opened on Thursday, with its former vice-chairman Albert Ho Chun-yan pleading guilty in court. 

Former Alliance chairman Lee Cheuk-yan, former vice-chairmen Ho and Tonyee Chow Hang-tung are charged with inciting others to subvert state power between July 1, 2020 and September 8, 2021. 

The trio, currently in custody, appeared at West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts this morning. Ho made a guilty plea, while Lee and Chow pleaded not guilty. 

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Chow appeared in court with her hair tied and wearing a brown coat. Lee wore a black shirt and dark blue jacket, while Ho was dressed in a black shirt; both appeared in good spirits. 

The case is heard by three judges appointed under the National Security Law, including Alex Lee Wan-tang,  Johnny Chan Jong-herng, and Anna Lai Yuen-kee. It is expected to last 75 days. 

The prosecution is represented by Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Ned Lai Ka-yee and Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Ivan Cheung Cheuk-kan. 

The defense is represented by barristers Erik Shum Sze-Man and Priscilia Lam Tsz-ying, with Chow representing herself. 

The police presence was significant outside the court. More than a hundred members of the public were lined up to enter the courtroom, and several foreign Consul Generals were also in attendance.