Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying arrived at the Eastern Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday morning to testify as a witness in lawmaker Wong Yuk-man’s common assault trial.
Wong, 63, stands accused of throwing a glass at Leung during a Legislative Council question-and-answer session in July 2014. He was charged with common assault last August and has denied the charges.
Leung is listed as the first of the prosecution’s witnesses and arrived at the court at 9am amid a media scrum. It is the first time a Chief Executive has testified before the court while serving in office.
The Executive Council Secretariat announced on Monday evening that Leung would be absent from the regular ExCo meeting on Tuesday “due to other engagement”. He was also unable to meet the media and receive petition letters. The meeting will instead be chaired by Chief Secretary Carrie Lam.
Aside from Leung, the court will also be summoning seven defence witnesses, including Secretary for Transport and Housing Anthony Cheung, and six other lawmakers: Kwok Ka-ki, James Tien, Chan Wai-yip, Abraham Shek, Leung Yiu-chung, and Joseph Lee Kok-long.
Outside the court, the police erected barricades while officers remained on standby. A group of activists from Civic Passion tried to get close to Leung when he arrived, but were quickly surrounded by police, RTHK reported. Many protesters – including supporters of Leung and People Party members – also gathered outside.
