Hong Kong national security law: Tiananmen Square vigil activists refuse bail, saying liberty in exchange for free speech is a price not worth paying

Two leaders of the group behind Hong Kong’s annual Tiananmen Square vigil have decided to stay in prison despite being granted bail ahead of a national security law trial, saying they will not comply with conditions that restrict their freedom of speech.

Acting chief magistrate Peter Law Tak-chuen on Friday granted temporary release to five former executive members of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, who were jointly accused of failing to provide information for a police investigation.

Former vice-chairwoman Chow Hang-tung, and standing committee members Leung Kam-wai, Tsui Hon-kwong, Tang Ngok-kwan and Chan To-wai, denied the allegation, saying the alliance was not a foreign agent and had no obligation to heed the request. A trial date has yet to be fixed.

Law, who is among a pool of jurists hand-picked by city leader Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor to oversee security law proceedings, said he was satisfied the risk of releasing the five on bail had been sufficiently reduced, as there was little chance of them tampering with the evidence police seized or helping other suspects escape.

Moments after the bail decision was heard at West Kowloon Court, Chow and Leung applied to have it revoked on the grounds they were unable to accept the magistrate’s order to refrain from speeches and acts that could “reasonably” be suspected to constitute a national security offence.

Chow, a barrister by profession, said the condition was “too unclear that I don’t know how to follow it”, adding she would not exchange free speech for liberty.