Photo taken on July 1, 2020 shows the Golden Bauhinia Square after a flag-raising ceremony held by the government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in Hong Kong, south China.(Photo: Xinhua)

 Five people have pleaded guilty on Monday morning over an unauthorized assembly on June 4, 2020, including Lee Cheuk-yan, former chairman of the now disbanded organization "Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China" (HK Alliance).

The trial of eight defendants charged of organizing, joining or inciting others to participate in an unauthorized assembly took place at the District Court in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) on Monday morning. 

Before the trail began on Monday, five defendants including Lee Cheuk-yan admitted to the charges against them. Previously in September, they told the court that they would not plead guilty. 

The judge adjourned proceedings for the five pleading guilty for mitigation pleas and sentencing until November 12.

Three others involved in the case, including the already imprisoned media tycoon Jimmy Lai and former deputy chairman of HK Alliance Tonyee Chow, pleaded not guilty. 

Although the Hong Kong Police Force rejected the HK Alliance's request to hold a vigil on June 4, 2020 in Victoria Park due to COVID-19 epidemic concerns, the vigil illegally took place. Twenty-six people have been charged of knowingly participating, unlawfully inciting others to participate, and/or holding an unauthorized assembly. 

A number of 16 defendants pleaded guilty earlier in the same case, including the imprisoned secessionist Joshua Wong and Albert Ho. Some were given suspended prison terms and others were sentenced to 10 months' imprisonment. 

The other two defendants, Nathan Law and Sunny Cheung, have absconded overseas and the court has issued arrest warrants for them.

According to Hong Kong's law, participating in an unauthorized assembly is illegal and could result in a maximum of five years in prison. 

Global Times