Bail application rejected for seven activists

Seven defendants in the pro-democracy primary elections case saw their bail application rejected by the court today while another defendant withdrew her bail application.

The defendants appeared before chief magistrate Victor So Wai-tak in West Kowloon court today. They have been remanded for three months and will continue to remain in jail custody until their next court appearance on July 8.

The 47 politicians and activists have been charged with conspiracy to subvert state powers under the national security law for organizing or taking part in the pro-democracy camp's primary elections last year.

The principal offenders in the subversion cases could be sentenced to life or fixed-term imprisonment of not less than 10 years. Active participants could be jailed for three to 10 years, while others could be jailed for not more than three years.

So rejected the bail application from Ben Chung Kam-lun, 32; Gordon Ng Ching-hang, 42; Henry Wong Pak-yu, 30; Andrew Chiu Ka-yin, 36; Nathan Lau Chak-fung, 24; Gary Fan Kwok-wai, 54 and Winnie Yu Wai-ming, 34.

Another defendant, Carol Ng Man-yee, 50, withdrew her bail application today.

The eight defendants also gave up their right to apply for another bail review in eight days.

The court had earlier granted bail to 11 defendants in March while the other 36 have been remanded for three months already.

Eleven of the remanded defendants applied for bail again on Monday. One of them, activist Tiffany Yuen Ka-wai, saw her bail application rejected yesterday and the court will handle Roy Tam Hoi-pong and Raymond Chan Chi-chuen’s application tomorrow.

Another 25 remanded defendants did not make any bail application.

The 11 defendants who have already been released on bail in March, including Cheng Tat-hung, Clarisse Yeung Suet-ying and Helena Wong Pik-wan, continued to be granted bail pending trial. 

Meanwhile, another five defendants -- Lam Cheuk-ting, Andrew Wan Siu-kin and Kwok Ka-ki, Wu Chi-wai and Au Nok-hin -- canceled their bail for another case involving Legco conflicts today as they have been remanded since March.

They have been accused of obstructing Legco officers and pro-establishment lawmakers three times from 2018 to last year. Principal magistrate Ivy Chui Yee-mei agreed to their applications and adjourned the cases to October 4.