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July 17, 2024

The Witness: Hong Kong 47 | Court Postpones Mitigation Hearings for New Territories West and East Defendants Due to “Unforeseen Circumstances”

In the case of 47 pro-democracy figures charged with “conspiracy to commit subversion of state power,” mitigation pleas for four batches totaling 26 convicted defendants, including organizers, candidates from Hong Kong Island, Eastern Kowloon, Western Kowloon, super-districts, and the health services sector, have been completed. There are still eight candidates from New Territories West and eleven from New Territories East pending.

According to the judiciary’s website, the mitigation hearings originally scheduled for the end of July and early August for the defendants from New Territories West and New Territories East have been postponed. The New Territories West hearings are rescheduled for August 27 to 29, and New Territories East for September 2 to 5. The court sent a notification on Tuesday afternoon (16th) stating that the rescheduling was due to “unforeseen circumstances.”

Mitigation hearings for 19 individuals from New Territories West and New Territories East are pending. 

All eight defendants from New Territories West, including Eddie Chu Hoi-dick, Sam Cheung Ho-sum, Prince Wong Ji-yuet, Ng Kin-wai, Andrew Wan Siu-kin, Kwok Ka-ki, Carol Ng Man-yee, and Roy Tam Hoi-pong, have pleaded guilty. Originally scheduled from July 30 to August 1, their mitigation hearings have been postponed to August 27 to 29.

As for the 11 defendants from New Territories East, including those convicted after trial such as Gwyneth Ho Kwai-lam, Raymond Chan Chi-chuen, Owen Chow Ka-shing, Lam Cheuk-ting, Leung Kwok-hung, and Ricky Or Yiu-lam; and those who have pleaded guilty, including Ventus Lau Wing-hong, Alvin Yeung Ngok-kiu, Gary Fan Kwok-wai, Hendrick Lui Chi-hang, and Mike Lam King-nam, their mitigation hearings were originally scheduled for August 5 to 8 but have now been postponed to September 2 to 5.

Twenty-six individuals have completed their mitigation hearings. 

Of the 45 defendants convicted, mitigation began on June 25 and has been conducted in six batches. To date, four batches involving 26 individuals have completed their pleas, including five people whom the prosecution claims were organizers: Benny Tai Yiu-ting, Au Nok-hin, Andrew Chiu Ka-yin, Ben Chung Kam-lun who pleaded guilty, and Gordon Ng Ching-hang who was convicted after trial.

The remaining defendants, identified as participants in the primary elections, include candidates from Hong Kong Island: Tiffany Yuen Ka-wai, Fergus Leung Fong-wai, Tat Cheng Tat-hung, Andy Chui Chi-kin, Clarisse Yeung Suet-ying, and Michael Pang Cheuk-kei; from Eastern Kowloon: Joshua Wong, Jeremy Jansen Tam Man-ho, Kinda Li Ka-tat, Tam Tak-chi, Wu Chi-wai, and Sze Tak-loy; from Western Kowloon: Jimmy Sham Tsz-kit, Claudia Mo, Jonathan Ho Kai-ming, Frankie Fung Tat-chun, Wong Bik-wan, and Nathan Lau; from the super-districts: Lester Shum Ngo-fai, Henry Wong Pak-yu; and from the health services sector: Winnie Yu Wai-ming.

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