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March 8, 2021 11:05:03 am
Hong Kong’s West Kowloon Magistrates’ Court granted bail Thursday to 15 of the 47 opposition figures charged with subversion under the region’s controversial national security law after organizing and participating in an unofficial primary election last July. A challenge from the prosecutors, however, meant that all 15 were kept in custody. In a “surprise u-turn,” four of the defendants were released on Friday after prosecutors revoked their challenge to the court’s bail decision.
The defendants were among the 53 opposition figures arrested in dawn raids on January 6. The raids, which have been the subject of censure from international rights groups, were the largest crackdown on opposition since the national security law was promulgated in July last year. Amnesty International’s Asia-Pacific Regional Director Yamini Mishra said of the raids:
Hong Kong: Pro-democracy activists kept in custody
A Hong Kong court has ordered 47 pro-democracy activists to be held behind bars as they await trial in late May. Though 15 were initially granted bail in a marathon arraignment hearing, that decision is now under review.
Observers say Hong Kong s government is pushing the limits of the new national security law to crush all political dissent
A Hong Kong court on Thursday ordered 47 dissidents held on subversion charges under a Beijing-imposed national security law not be released on bail before a May 31 court hearing.
Fifteen of the people charged were initially granted bail but have now been ordered to return to custody to await the decision of a 48-hour review prompted by a Department of Justice appeal. Thirty-one activists were denied bail outright.