Hong Kong national security law: bail blow for another defendant in city’s largest prosecution under Beijing-imposed legislation, others drop their bids
- Rejection for first defendant in subversion case to apply for bail directly at High Court, five others withdraw their applications at last minute
- Forty-seven opposition politicians, activists have been charged with subversion over last year’s unofficial primary ballot
Opposition district councillor Andy Chui Chi-kin, one of the 47 charged in Hong Kong’s largest crackdown to date under the national security law, was denied bail on Friday for the second time, while five co-defendants withdrew their applications at the last minute.
Madam Justice Esther Toh Lye-ping threw out the bail bid from Chui, the first defendant in the subversion case relating to last year’s unofficial primary election to apply to the High Court directly for temporary release.
She will give her full reasons in a written judgment to be handed down. Chui shook his head upon hearing the ruling and waved to his elderly parents, wife and brother before leaving the dock, as others in the public gallery shouted support.
Earlier on Friday, five of Chui’s co-defendants returned to West Kowloon Court for a scheduled bail review before Chief Magistrate Victor So Wai-tak, only to withdraw their applications.
They are former lawmaker Lam Cheuk-ting; activist Gordon Ng Ching-hang; district councillors Fergus Lam Fong-wai, and Henry Wong Pak-yu; and primary election run-off candidate Gwyneth Ho Kwai-lam.
Only Lam and Ng reserved their right to apply for another bail review in eight days, while the other three have given up. The next hearing will be on March 25. Lam said he halted his application because he needed more time to make his case.
The group, who will remain in custody, waved and smiled at their relatives and friends in the public gallery as they left the courtroom.