HKFP reports
Security law: Dozens of Hong Kong democrats to spend festive season in detention – subversion trial date still unclear
Dozens of pro-democracy figures in Hong Kong will spend Christmas and the New Year behind bars, as a court adjourned their case under the Beijing-imposed national security law to next year with no clear trial date.
The 47 democrats, most of whom have been detained for around nine months, appeared at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts on Monday after the proceedings to formally commit their case to the High Court were adjourned twice.
The group stands accused of taking part in a conspiracy to commit subversion, in connection with an unofficial legislative primary election held in July last year. So far, only 14 defendants have been granted bail pending trial.
They could face up to life imprisonment if convicted by the High Court.
Acting Chief Magistrate Peter Law on Monday ordered some defendants to return to the court on February 8, while another court appearance is scheduled for March 4.
Protest slogan chanted
When the detained defendants entered the dock, many waved and nodded at their family and friends in the public gallery. Dressed in a black blazer and a yellow top, activist “Fast Beat” Tam Tak-chi raised a hand gesture signalling “Five demands, not one less” and shouted the protest slogan “Liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our times.”
The five demands refer to the aims of the 2019 pro-democracy protests and unrest. Whilst the ” Liberate Hong Kong” slogan was banned the government last July, and was ruled to be capable of carrying a secessionist meaning during the city’s first national security trial.
Other defendants and the crowd in the public gallery cheered and clapped whilst a corrections officer told Tam to sit down.
Defendants who were on bail sat on a long bench outside of the dock. Former lawmaker Ray Chan gave activist Owen Chow a hug and a pat on his back when he arrived, others chatted briefly before the hearing began.
When the four-hour-long hearing ended, defendants in the dock stood on the benches and moved close to the glass panels to bid farewell. Former district councillor Tiffany Yuen told fellow activist Owen Chow – who is on bail – to write letters back to her, to which Chow responded “I will.”
One detained democrat was heard chanting “Hong Kong come on!” – or literally “add oil” – as another shouted “Happy birthday, mom!”
“Come out together,” one supporter shouted. Others yelled: “Hang in there!”
