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Hong Kong national security law
Hong KongLaw and Crime

National security law: bail rejected once more for seven Hong Kong opposition figures ahead of subversion trial

  • The politicians and activists who lost their bids for release on Tuesday are among the 47 arrested for their roles in last July’s unofficial primary election
  • Prosecutors allege the group conspired to ‘paralyse’ the city government if they succeeded in gaining a Legislative Council majority

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Former district councillor Gary Fan, seen here during his arrest, was among the opposition figures seeking bail on Tuesday. Photo: Handout
Brian Wong
Seven opposition politicians and activists facing subversion charges under the national security law have failed to secure bail ahead of a trial in which they face potential life sentences.
The group, among 47 opposition figures charged over an unofficial primary election last summer, was escorted back to West Kowloon Court on Tuesday, a day after prosecutors successfully applied to have the case moved to the High Court, where no sentencing cap applies.

The seven filed a second bid for bail before Chief Magistrate Victor So Wai-tak, who detained them when the case was first heard in March, but failed to convince him they fulfilled the stringent requirements for release under the new law.

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A van carrying some of the 47 former opposition figures arrested over their roles in an unofficial election primary arrives at West Kowloon Court on Tuesday. Photo: Winson Wong
A van carrying some of the 47 former opposition figures arrested over their roles in an unofficial election primary arrives at West Kowloon Court on Tuesday. Photo: Winson Wong

Appearing in the dock on Tuesday were district councillor Andrew Chiu Ka-yin; former councillors Ben Chung Kam-lun, Henry Wong Pak-yu and Gary Fan Kwok-wai; and activists Gordon Ng Ching-hang, Nathan Lau Chak-fung and Winnie Yu Wai-ming. Chung had previously failed to win bail at the High Court.

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Former lawmaker Raymond Chan Chi-chuen and activist Carol Ng Man-yee, who reapplied for bail, have withdrawn their applications.

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