High Court To Hear Pan-dem Bail Challenge Next Week

The High Court on Saturday set hearings for next Thursday and Saturday to consider a challenge by prosecutors to a lower court's decision to grant bail to 11 pro-democracy figures in a high-profile subversion case.

The activists, including former lawmakers Helena Wong, Jeremy Tam and Kwok Ka-ki, have been in custody since the Department of Justice immediately appealed against a decision by West Kowloon Court to grant bail on Thursday.

They'll remain in custody until the fresh bail hearings after the court declined to hear applications for interim bail.

Four other defendants were released on bail on Friday after the department decided to call off its challenge to the decision to grant them bail. Several of the defendants who were denied bail by the lower court are also appealing. The High Court will hear their cases on Friday.

The 47 defendants are due to return to court on May 31.

Under the national security law, there is no presumption of bail.

The group have been charged for participating in or organising primary polls to choose Legco election candidates last year. They're accused of plotting to subvert the SAR government.

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