A judge denied bail to an opposition activist charged with subversion after learning he had “persistently reiterated his stance against the Hong Kong government, the police and the national security law”. Madam Justice Esther Toh Lye-ping, of the High Court, handed down the judgment on Monday explaining why she had previously denied bail to Roy Tam Hoi-pong, 41, who was charged with conspiracy to subvert state power over his role in an unofficial primary election last year. “Having heard and seen the documents and videos, and also read and heard the submissions of both counsel, I am not satisfied that the applicant will not continue to commit acts endangering national security law if granted bail,” Toh wrote. The prosecution has called the primary election “a massive and well-organised scheme” to paralyse the government and topple the city’s leader by winning a controlling majority in the Legislative Council. Had the official election not been postponed because of public health concerns, they claimed the conspiracy would have been successful. At the bail application hearing on August 23, defence counsel David Ma Wai-kwan submitted that Tam does not have much political influence, as can be seen from the fact that he lost in the primaries. Ma also revealed that Tam had since given up politics to focus on his family, health and environmental issues, which he has worked on for years through cooperation with various government departments. The counsel further noted that Tam had observed all police bail conditions and surrendered to custody at the appointed time following his initial arrest in January. But senior public prosecutor Andy Lo Tin-wai drew the court’s attention to Tam’s campaign speeches, in which he agreed to veto the budget and seek out all the security guards who used to work in the police force. Lo also pointed out that Tam had called for international sanctions against Hong Kong officials and senior police officers, and his stance “never wavered” even after the promulgation of the national security law. Hong Kong national security police arrest at least 2 from student activist group The prosecutor said Tam had “persistently reiterated” his stance against the Hong Kong government, the police and the Beijing-imposed law. If bail was granted, Lo said Tam could “very easily” use the multiple platforms available to him to endanger national security. Just 14 out of the 47 opposition politicians and activists charged in connection with the case have been released on bail, with the latest being former lawmaker Raymond Chan Chi-chuen, who was freed last week. All 47 are expected to return to West Kowloon Court on September 23 for the case to be transferred to the higher Court of First Instance, where the maximum sentence is life in prison.