Ex-lawmakers Denied Bail, Councillors Released

The High Court on Saturday allowed the release on bail of district councillors Tat Cheng, Michael Pang, and Ricky Or, three of 47 pan-democrats charged under the national security law, but denied bail to ex-lawmakers Jeremy Tam and Kwok Ka-ki.

The decisions came as the High Court continued to deal with a challenge by prosecutors to a lower court’s decision to grant bail to 11 of the pro-democracy activists and politicians, including Cheng, Tam and Kwok.

Tam, a former legislator waved goodbye to his wife before being remanded in custody after the court upheld the challenge to his bail, while Cheng, an Eastern District councillor, seemed emotional on hearing the judgment.

Cheng will have to pay cash bail of HK$1.1 million, give up his travel documents, observe a curfew and report to police four times a week.

He is also banned from making any remarks that could reasonably be deemed as endangering national security.

They are among 11 defendants that were granted bail by national security judge Victor So before prosecutors objected to the decision.

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