Hong Kong court grants bail to 15 of 47 pro-democracy activists in landmark
The 15 defendants included ex-lawmakers Kwok Ka-ki, Jeremy Tam and Helena Wong, chief magistrate Victor So said. All the remaining 32 defendants, including former law professor Benny Tai and activist Joshua Wong, have been remanded in custody until the next hearing on May 31.
However, prosecutors immediately appealed the bail decisions, forcing the magistrate also to remand the 15 defendants in custody until an appeal hearing is made at the High Court within 48 hours.
In granting bail, chief magistrate Victor So said the defendants must not publish any speeches or commit any acts on any platforms that may reasonably be deemed as endangering national security. The 15 defendants are also not allowed to take part in any elections, with the exception of voting.
The defendants must not directly or indirectly contact any foreign officials or lawmakers, and must surrender all travel documents and obey a curfew order.
After the decision was announced, some of the defendants chanted “Hong Kong people, we are not dead yet” and “political prisoners are not guilty,” and thanked lawyers for their support.
According to Hong Kong laws, reporters are not permitted to disclose details of individual bail submissions. The magistrate has declined a request to grant an exemption in the hearing.
The prosecution has postponed the next hearing to May 31, after prosecutors said police would need more time to investigate the defendants’ mobile devices and financial records.
The bail decisions came after prosecutors and defense spent four full days debating whether each of the defendants should be granted bail.
Supporters fill gallery
Since Monday, supporters of the pro-democracy movement — mostly wearing black — have queued up outside the West Kowloon court and filled the public gallery. As the decision was announced on Thursday night, dozens of police officers were seen on standby outside the court building.
Hong Kong’s common law system traditionally requires prosecutors to convince the court why a judge should not grant bail. However, the national security law stipulates that defendants cannot be granted bail unless the court is convinced they will “not continue to commit acts endangering national security.”
Representatives from foreign missions were present to monitor the proceedings. Joakim Ladeborn, deputy consul of the Swedish embassy in Hong Kong, told CNN on Tuesday that the EU was concerned with how the national security law has been implemented in Hong Kong. “We are following the cases concerning the national security law very closely,” he said.
Authorities chose to conduct all bail hearings simultaneously, which turned what is normally a routine legal proceeding into a series of grueling, lengthy court sessions.
At least six defendants have been hospitalized amid the marathon hearings, the court heard.
The 47 pro-democracy…
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