Activists Again Denied Bail In Security Law Case

Twenty-one of the 47 pro-democracy figures charged with subversion under the national security law will continue to be held in custody after West Kowloon Magistrates' Court on Friday upheld its decision to refuse some of them bail, while others withdrew their appeals.

The court held a series of hearings on Friday to deal with the bail review applications.

Ten of them – former pro-democracy lawmakers Au Nok-hin, Wu Chi-wai, Chu Hoi-dick, Andrew Wan, Alvin Yeung and Lam Cheuk-ting, as well as activists Joshua Wong, Gwyneth Ho, Owen Chow and Frankie Fung – informed the court they were withdrawing their bids for release. They were immediately remanded in custody once again.

Chief Magistrate Victor So, meanwhile, stood by his earlier decision to refuse bail to the other 11. They are League of Social Democrats members Leung Kwok-hung and Jimmy Sham, ex-legislator Claudia Mo, district councillors Lester Shum, Fergus Leung, Wong Pak-yu and Tiffany Yuen, as well as activists Wong Ji-yuet, Carol Ng, Winnie Yu and Gordon Ng.

In between the hearings, Tiffany Yuen and Au Nok-hin made heart-shaped hand gestures to their families in the public gallery.

Others tried to lighten the mood by engaging in light-hearted conversations with their fellow defendants in the dock.

“Stanley Prison is the Michelin in the prison sector,” said Lester Shum, referring to the quality of the food in the prison.

“Tai Lam (Centre for Women) is not bad either. The curry tastes like Masala,” Gwyneth Ho replied.

Their exchanges prompted some laughter in the public gallery.

There were also those who uttered messages to their families and friends before being escorted out of the docks following the magistrate’s decision to remand them in custody.

"My family, I love you. My friends wait for me,” Wong Pak-yu said.

“Hang in there, comrades in arms. Hongkongers add oil,” Winnie Yu said.

Meanwhile, large crowds gathered outside the court building in the morning, showing their support for the defendants and trying to get tickets to attend the hearing.

The 47 defendants are accused of conspiring to commit subversion by taking part in Legco primaries last year, with the aim of winning a majority in Legco to paralyse the government.

Only five have been released on bail so far, pending their next hearing in late May.

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