3 student union leaders charged with advocating terrorism given bail as they do not pose further national security threat, Hong Kong judge says
- Madam Justice Esther Toh explains why she decided to temporarily release Charles Kwok, Kinson Cheung and Chris Todorovski in September
- The three, along with Anthony Yung, were student union leaders at the University of Hong Kong charged with advocating terrorism over motion praising man who stabbed police officer
A High Court judge has explained that she granted bail to three former leaders of the student union at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) accused of promoting terrorism because they do not pose a further threat to national security.
Madam Justice Esther Toh Lye-ping gave details on Friday of her ruling in September to temporarily release Charles Kwok Wing-ho, 20, Kinson Cheung King-sang, 19, and Chris Todorovski Shing-hang, 18, despite objections from the prosecution.
The three, along with student Anthony Yung Chung-hei, 19, have been charged with advocating terrorism and an alternative count of incitement to wound with intent for passing a motion on July 7 expressing sympathy and appreciation for Leung Kin-fai, who killed himself after stabbing a police constable on July 1.
Cheung was chairman of the student union council, while Kwok was the union president and proposed the motion that was seconded by Todorovski, a residential hall representative, and supported by Yung from the Arts Association.
Following a public outcry, the motion was openly withdrawn within 30 hours of its resolution, with the students bowing in apology and resigning from their posts.
The four students in August were brought before acting chief magistrate Peter Law Tak-chuen, who released Yung on bail and remanded the three others in custody. Prosecutors challenged Yung’s release but Toh upheld Law’s decision.
Both Toh and Law have been designated by the Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor to handle national security cases.