The following is issued on behalf of the Judiciary:

     The Judiciary today (March 1) announced that the seats reserved in the public gallery for a fresh case today, with dozens of defendants at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts, have all been taken and all tickets have been distributed. 

     There were still hundreds of people queuing inside and outside the court building in the afternoon, waiting for standby seats. The situation was very crowded.

     With regards to a court order, security and public health considerations, members of the public are advised to no longer go to the court building today for this case. 

     The Judiciary had reserved as many extra seats as possible and arranged three court extensions to broadcast the court proceedings of the fresh case concerned as an excessive demand for seats was expected.

Ends/Monday, March 1, 2021
Issued at HKT 15:00

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