The leader of the "Dragon Slaying Brigade," Wong Chun-keung, said the group made a name for itself after its band of "valiant" protesters damaged a shop in Yi Pei Square, Tsuen Wan, that was allegedly controlled by a triad during a march in August 2019, the high court heard yesterday during the SAR's first anti-terrorism law trial.

Six men and a woman are on trial for allegedly planning to use target police with firearms and bombs during a Human Rights Day march on December 8, 2019.

Wong, considered the mastermind, said he quit a full-time job after the Yuen Long triad attack on July 21 that year to fully commit himself to protests and survived with the help of donations.

Wong said that, soon after forming the brigade, he linked up with a woman on Telegram who claimed to be a secondary school teacher.

That acquaintance, he told the court, enabled him to hook up with some donors, including lawyers, lawmakers and journalists.

Among the brigade's members are three of the case's defendants - Cheung Chun-fu, 24, Cheung Ming-yu, 21, and Christian Lee Ka-tin, 25, Wong said.

The name "Dragon Slaying Brigade" was chosen to symbolize the group's belief that they could defeat the police force, specifically the special tactical contingent, nicknamed "Raptors" in Cantonese.

Some time between the end of July and early August 2019, Wong met technician Ng Chi-hung. The two pleaded guilty in February.

Ng indicated he had a sponsor who could support Wong and other protesters in their campaign.

Ng also intimated that he planned to introduce much more potent weapons and ammunition, even tactical training.

In late August 2019, at Ng's invitation, Wong joined a meeting of "valiant" protestors at the University of Science and Technology.

In that meeting, Ng pointed out the differences in force deployment between protesters and the police, with the former having just Molotov cocktails.

"A balance is necessary before the protest can carry on," Wong quoted Ng as saying and further indicating he would introduce firearms to their protest movement to kill police officers.

Ng is said to have arranged for military training to be held in Taiwan a month after the meeting.

The training was designed by a retired Taiwanese soldier and free of charge, but Wong said Cheung Ming-yu was the only one in the brigade who was interested in it.

The August 2019 meeting was also attended by another protester, known only as "Baby Tiger."

"Baby Tiger" gave him around HK$100,000 to find a place to make Molotov cocktails, with Wong saying that the cost of every 100 such volatile devices delivered was more than HK$100,000. That became the brigade's biggest cost.

The prosecution showed a video clip that was shot in a field, which Wong said was taken in Sai Kung, where brigade members tested firearms in the early hours of November 17, 2019.

The tests were supposed to be carried out by him and Lee, but Wong said he was injured during protests at the Chinese University campus between November 11 and 15, so Cheung Ming-yu took his place.

Police in Central the day of the 2019 Human Rights Day march and, below, finding protesters' tools. Below left: a Tsuen Wan shop trashed in August 2019.

Dragon Slaying name arose from 'triad shop raid'