Four men yesterday pleaded guilty at the District Court to a charge of conspiracy in assaulting Legislative Councillor Albert Ho with intent. Ho was attacked on August 20, 2006.

On admission of guilt, the second defendant said he had approached Ho's office for application for public housing and social security allowance while he was out of work.

Since Ho failed to help him, he, therefore, paid others to physically attack Ho in August last year.

The case has been adjourned till Monday for handing down sentence.

However, Ho doubted the truthfulness of the defendant's confession and urged the police to further investigate the case.

The four men were charged with attacking and wounding Ho in a fast food restaurant in Central district on August 20 last year after he had taken part in a march against the introduction of a goods and services tax.

Yesterday, the second defendant said while he was out of work last year, he contacted Ho's office for assistance in his application for public housing and social security in March 2006.

When he found that Ho not replying, he became infuriated and paid HK$8,000 and 17,000 yuan respectively to hire two attackers, while the other defendant stayed at the scene to monitor the situation.

The judge asked since the defendant was out of work, where did he get the money to pay the attackers? In reply, the defence counsel said the defendant had acted as a casual worker and saved up some money.

Speaking on the case later yesterday, Ho admitted that the defendant had approached his office for help.

Yet since he had not resided in Hong Kong for seven years to become a permanent resident, he was not qualified for public housing and his office staff had explained this to him.

"I hope the police will continue to investigate, search for evidence and track down the masterminds behind the crime," Ho said.