Hong Kong national security law: defence lawyers complain of clients’ ‘sheer torment’ as bail hearings for 47 accused opposition activists drag on
- Bail applications of eight of 47 defendants have yet to be heard at West Kowloon Court following an eight-hour session on Tuesday
- Half of those in dock were allowed to leave early after magistrate said he feared the defendants were not getting enough rest
The bail applications of eight of the 47 defendants, charged with subversion over an unofficial primary election last year, had yet to be heard at West Kowloon Court following an eight-hour session on Tuesday that ended at 10.35pm.
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Hong Kong opposition activists rushed to hospital after marathon bail hearing
Half of those in the dock were allowed to leave early after the presiding judge said he feared the defendants were not getting enough rest after spending 10 hours in Monday’s session.
Defence counsel Brian Tsui Ho-chuen, acting for defendants Fergus Leung Fong-wai and Tam Tak-chi, told the court most defendants could get little to no rest during the adjournment early on Tuesday morning.
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Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong and others charged with subversion arrive at detention centre
Tsui said the male defendants, for instance, were taken from court at 5am before reaching Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre one hour later, but they left there again at 8am as prison officers brought them back to the dock.
