Former Hong Kong opposition lawmaker Albert Ho granted bail while facing national security charge after serving jail time for illegal assembly
- Former vice-chairman of now-defunct Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China was jailed in May 2021 over previous offence
- The 70-year-old left High Court in Admiralty at 5.20pm and entered private seven-seater car without speaking to media
Former Hong Kong opposition lawmaker Albert Ho Chun-yan was on Monday released on bail while facing a national security charge laid against him when he was serving time behind bars for unlawful assembly.
The 70-year-old, who spent more than 15 months in prison, left the High Court in Admiralty at 5.20pm and entered a private seven-seater vehicle without speaking to the media. He appeared to have lost weight.
The former vice-chairman of the now-defunct Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China was jailed in May 2021 for 18 months over an illegal gathering in October 2019.
While serving that sentence, he was charged by national security police with inciting others to subvert state power.
Ho would have been released last month if not for the national security charge. He had also previously applied for full bail and one-day bail to attend medical checks as he was diagnosed with cancer about six years ago.
The nine conditions set on him include cash bail of HK$700,000 (US$89,211), surety from two personal guarantees of HK$200,000 from his daughter and younger brother’s wife, as well as reporting to Wan Chai Police Station three times a week.
He cannot leave Hong Kong, and must hand over all travel documents, observe a nighttime curfew, and live at his current address or notify police before changing it.