Lai Chi-ying pleaded not guilty in the first trial in Hong Kong after the year.

Lai Chi-ying, founder of Next Media Hong Kong

The first case to be tried in Hong Kong after the New Year holiday is the participation of nine pro-democracy activists in the “August 18 Rally” of the 2019 anti-China movement, who were charged with organizing an unauthorized assembly and participating in an unauthorized rally. Seven of them, including Lai Chi-ying, founder of the Hong Kong One Media Group, and Lee Chu-ming, founding chairman of the Democratic Party, pleaded not guilty, while two former lawmakers, Au Nok-hin and Leung Yiu-chung, pleaded guilty and were released on bail.

After the rally, more than 3,000 Hong Kong people marched to Admiralty and stayed in the area of the Hong Kong Government headquarters until the early morning.

On April 18 last year, the Hong Kong police launched an arrest operation and arrested nine people, including Lai Chi-ying, former legislator Lee Cheuk-yan, Ng Yau-yee, Leung Kwok-hung, Ho Sau-lan, Albert Ho, Leung Yiu-chung, Lee Chu-ming and Au Nok-hin. They were charged with organizing and participating in an unauthorized assembly and announcing an unauthorized procession. The case was heard in the Eastern Magistrates’ Court on May 15 last year and all were granted bail.

The case has now been transferred from the Hong Kong District Court to the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Court for a 10-day trial.

Lai Chi-ying, who was detained in connection with the national security case, appeared in court on May 15 dressed in a suit and escorted by three correctional officers. Au Nok Hin pleaded guilty to organizing an unauthorized assembly and participating in an unauthorized assembly, while Leung Yiu-chung pleaded guilty to participating in an unauthorized assembly and denied organizing an unauthorized assembly. Other defendants in the same case pleaded not guilty. Both Lee Cheuk-yan and Leung Kwok Hung said they opposed political prosecution.