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National security law: Hong Kong ex-lawmaker on urgent bail no-show yet at father’s funeral, expected to attend Saturday morning

  • Former Democratic Party leader Wu Chi-wai in custody awaiting three separate trials, one of which falls under national security legislation
  • Correctional Services Department had expressed concern that political supporters might heed online calls to show up at the ceremony

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Former Hong Kong lawmaker Wu Chi-wai walks to a prison van on his way to a national security law hearing in March. Photo: Handout

A former leader of Hong Kong’s biggest opposition party in detention for alleged national security and other offences was granted urgent bail on Friday morning to attend his father’s funeral but by late evening was a no-show at the vigil.

Instead, Wu Chi-wai could be expected to attend the last rites of the funeral on Saturday morning, the Post learned, after local media had camped out throughout Friday at Diamond Hill Funeral Parlour awaiting his arrival from prison.

The former lawmaker from the Democratic Party had been in custody facing three separate criminal trials, one of which is related to the Beijing-imposed national security law.
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Wu, 58, had earlier requested permission for a leave of absence to pay tribute in person to his 92-year-old father, who died last month. But prison authorities rejected his application on security grounds and offered to live-stream the ceremony for him instead.

The move prompted Wu to apply for temporary release from custody. The Taoist ceremony on Friday night was open to friends and neighbours of the family.

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Hong Kong’s High Court on Friday granted Wu Chi-wai’s urgent bail application. Photo: Warton Li
Hong Kong’s High Court on Friday granted Wu Chi-wai’s urgent bail application. Photo: Warton Li
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