Hong Kong Tiananmen vigil leader Chow Hang-tung granted bail over banned 2021 vigil

Hong Kong pro-democracy activist and barrister Chow Hang-tung has been granted bail on Thursday after she was charged with inciting others to knowingly participate in a banned rally on the 32nd anniversary of the Tiananmen crackdown.

Chow won bail at the Court of First Instance after failing three times since she was charged last month.

Madam Justice Judianna Barnes set the amount at HK$50,000 and required another HK$50,000 in surety. She will also have to surrender her travel documents, reside at her Ma On Shan address, and report to the district police station once a week.

The barrister was first arrested on the morning of June 4 for allegedly publicizing the banned assembly on social media. Police banned the annual vigil for a second consecutive year citing Covid-19 concerns and sealed off Victoria Park to prevent people from gathering.

While Chow was initially released on a HK$10,000 cash bail, she was arrested again on June 30. The police also accused her of publicizing a banned pro-democracy rally on July 1.

She first applied for bail on July 2. When that was refused, she twice applied for a review, on July 9 and July 23, but was again unsuccessful.