Wong Chun-keung, the leader of the protest group Dragon Slaying Brigade, admitted to planning to set off bombs during the Human Rights Day march on December 8, 2019, with the help of co-conspirator Ng Chi-hung during cross-examination yesterday in Hong Kong's first anti-terrorism law case.

Wong also admitted expressing his desire to purchase firearms to Lau Pui-ying, the sole female defendant among seven suspects accused of plotting to detonate bombs and use firearms to target police that day.

Wong and Ng, portrayed as the plot's masterminds, both pleaded guilty to the charges in February.

Wong said he and Ng had drawn up the plan themselves. However, Ng was not a brigade member, which meant he was unaware of how Wong had assigned duties within the group.

Wong said that on December 3, 2019, he met up with Ng, a brigade member named "Kan" and another protester, "Kristy" at a dessert shop in Tsuen Wan, where they discussed the details of the plot.

They then went to a bar in the district, where they met two others. It was there that Wong first encountered Lai Chun-pong, one of the defendants.

Wong was questioned over why he had only mentioned Lai's presence at the bar in a non-prejudicial statement made between August and September 2023, instead of during the police's video-recorded interview immediately after his arrest on December 8, 2019.

Wong said he had only vague recollections during the interview, but had later "recalled the Telegram conversations when he was calmer."

He said he hadn't met Lai before the gathering at the bar, nor had Ng mentioned Lai in the Telegram chats.

Wong also acknowledged spending HK$100,000 to purchase 100 Molotov cocktails, despite "Kristy" offering him a cheaper option of HK$5,000 for 300 of them.

Wong said he chose to buy from another protester named "Baby Tiger" because the friend of "Baby Tiger" who provided the Molotov cocktails had a background in chemistry and could provide better-quality products.

Of Lau, Wong said she wasn't involved in any of the brigade's Telegram group chats. However, he still considered her a member.

Wong and Lau had their first conversation on November 4, 2019, during which Wong informed Lau of the brigade's need for funding.

Wong also sent Lau three gun emojis.

Wong agreed he did not specify to Lau whether he intended to buy toy guns or real firearms, nor did he disclose the purpose of the purchase.

Also, the funds obtained from Lau were not used to buy firearms.

It has been revealed during the trial that Wong borrowed from three finance companies and had to repay HK$3,000 every month.

Between November 4 and December 4, 2019, Lau made a total of seven transactions with Wong, amounting to HK$245,000.

Wong confirmed that there was only HK$1,000 to HK$2,000 in his bank account before Lau made these contributions.

Dragon Slayer leader admits planning to set off bombs during rights march