Sixteen Democratic Party members pleaded not guilty to their charge over the violation of the eight-people gathering ban during a march in opposition of the national security law in May this year at Eastern District Magistrates’ Court today. Andrew Wan Siu-kin, alongside Wu Chi-wai, Helena Wong Pik-wan, Ng Kim-sing, Tsui Yuen-wah and Edith Leung Yu-ting, are among the 16 charged with one count of prohibited group gathering. The court heard that the 16 were among 24 Democratic Party members who were participating in a prohibited group gathering due to their march from Western Police Station to the Liaison Office via Western Street and the pavement near Des Voeux Road West without “lawful authority” or “reasonable excuse” on May 22. The defense counsel said the prosecution’s interpretation of “lawful authority” and “reasonable excuse” was controversial, adding that the latter should list out the exact time and location of the offense committed by the defendants. On May 22, 24 Democratic Party members were slapped with a HK$2,000 penalty ticket for violating the eight-people gathering ban.

Source: The Standard December 16, 2020 11:42 UTC